PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith at the launch of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017
Vietnam and Laos are the nations having always been side by side and shared joys and sorrows. Their special and unique ties are sourced from the closeness in geographical features, the historical common-ground during the fight against the same invaders and the close cooperation and mutual support during each country’s cause of national construction and protection.
Entering a new period in the context that the world and region are experiencing complicated steps in their development, the special ties between Vietnam and Laos have been constant and continued developing.
After 30 years of renewal, both Vietnam and Laos have reaped benefits in the cause of national construction and development and been integrating intensively in the region and the world. Their roles and statuses in the international arena have continually improved.
Vietnam and Laos have always wholeheartedly supported and assisted each other in the spirit of comradeship and brotherhood. The two countries’ Party and State leaders have been always determined to reinforce and develop the bilateral ties and confirmed that the relationship between Vietnam and Laos is “a matter of life and death” and is “the rule of existence and development” and the two nations could not be separated. That is the reason why they need to protect these special ties as to protect the pupil of the eye.
It is that strong determination that makes the special ties and comprehensive partnership between the two nations closer, renovated and intensively developed in all aspects.
The political ties have developed in an intensive manner. Both sides have regularly exchanged high-ranking delegations in different forms. The latest exchanges were the Vietnam visit by Laos’ Party General Secretary and State President Bounnhang Volachit last April and the official visit to Laos by Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong last December. The two countries’ cooperation mechanisms have been renovated in a more effective and practical direction.
The defense-security cooperation has been strengthened, especially in prevention of crimes, drug trafficking and cross-border smuggling of goods and in addressing illegal migration and re-migration-related issues. Of particular note, the search for and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteer troops, who died while serving international service in Laos, have been carried out.
Vietnam and Laos have completed the project to reinforce and upgrade border markers between them and signed other documents on the completion of the project on March 16, 2016.
Positive outcomes are also seen in the cooperation in economics, trade, and investment. They have boosted each side’s strengths during the industrialization and modernization cause in each country.
The two countries have gradually cooperated and supported each other in economics and focused on transport and energy. Specifically, last October, the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in developing hydroelectric power projects in Laos and on power purchase until 2030. They also signed a deal on building a Hanoi-Vientiane Highway last November, the five-year project (2016-2020) on implementing the MoU on Vietnam-Laos transport strategy, the project to build bonded warehouses and pipelines from Hon La Port in the Vietnamese province of Quang Binh to Lao province of Khammouane.
They also agreed to promote the building and upgrading of roads on the East-West corridor and linking areas in the region and create conditions for Laos to exploit seaways for the import and export of goods, including the effective exploitation of Vung Ang port.
Leaders of the two countries are determined to resolutely settle difficulties facing Vietnamese enterprises investing in and doing business in Laos, so as to enhance economic, trade and investment cooperation as well as measures to promote two-way trade volume.
Priority has been given to the cooperation on education and training, culture, science and technology and more, to improve the quality of human resources, and boost each country’s potential in science and technology.
At present, over 14,000 Lao students are studying in Vietnam and 250 Vietnamese students are studying in Laos.
In terms of international relations, the two countries have supported each other and cooperated effectively in multilateral forums and in the framework of regional cooperation. That contributes to improving the status of the two countries and to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and a prosperously developed environment in the region and the world.
The Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017 opens up new pages for the development of the special ties between the two neighboring countries.
In realizing the agreements reached between the two senior leaders and with the high determination of upholding and fostering the Vietnam-Laos special ties, the two sides will boost their comprehensive cooperation and bring into play those special ties in the new context, as well as bring their relationship to a new higher level in a sustainable, intensive and effective manner.
To this end, the two sides should effectively implement joint statements and high-level agreements as well as outcomes of the 39th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, improve the efficiency of bilateral cooperative mechanisms, boost political ties and high-level delegation exchanges in diverse forms and effective cooperation activities between ministries, departments and localities and well organize activities to mark the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year in each country.
They will also reinforce cooperation on defense, security, crime prevention, especially trans-national crimes such as drug trafficking and smuggling. They will settle properly any issues in border areas, including illegal migration and border crossing. Agreements on borders will be also popularized and fully implemented.
Both sides will continue boosting connectivity between the two economies, increasing investment of Vietnamese enterprises in Laos, and gradually dealing with difficulties in economic cooperation.
They will boost education in the area of the special ties and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos among its cadres, troops and people, especially for the young generations in diverse and practical forms.
Other things to be done include the building of a contingent of managers with high professionalism, high spirit of enthusiasm, knowledge of culture, custom and language of each country, who could be key cadres in promoting the time-honored friendship between the two countries.
With the all-out efforts of the Party, State and people of the two countries, it is believed that the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Laos will flourish in the interest of the two peoples, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
Translated by Mai Huong