Laos, Vietnam wish for positive results in all-around co-operation

At a reception in Hanoi on December 30 for Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, PM Chinh welcomed the Lao guest’s visit in preparation for the forthcoming 47th session of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee, and noted that the regular exchange of all-level delegations indicates the unique and close-knit relationship between the two nations.

The Vietnamese Government leader congratulated Laos on its achievements in maintaining socio-political stability, national defence and security, and economic development, as well as successfully fulfilling its role as the Chair of ASEAN and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2024. He affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and places the highest priority on the great relationship.

He conveyed regards from Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to top Lao leaders.

In response, Kommasith thanked Vietnam for its genuine affection and valuable support during Laos' struggle for national liberation in the past, as well as in the current national protection and development process.

Laos has always closely cooperated with Vietnam in building an independent and self-reliant economy, he told his host.

Both sides shared the view on the strong development of the bilateral ties across spheres, from politics to defence, security, economy, culture, education-training, and locality-to-locality collaboration.

These achievements are viewed as the efforts and close coordination between the two countries’ ministries, agencies, and localities in order to materialize high-level commitments and agreements, especially the outcomes of the September meeting between the two Politburos and the December phone talks between the two Party General Secretaries, they emphasized.

The two sides consented to actively coordinate with each other to make the best preparations for the 47th session of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee, and to be full of determination to yield even greater results in 2025.

They concurred to make more breakthroughs in economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

Kommasith pledged to urge Lao ministries and sectors to ameliorate the investment environment and offer more favourable conditions for foreign businesses, including those from Vietnam, to invest and do business in Laos, especially in strategic areas such as infrastructure, transport connectivity, and energy.

He showed his desire for stronger connection between the two economies, and cooperation in fine-tuning the legal system to strengthen ties, for the sake of both countries' people.

He expressed interest in learning more about the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) cooperation model, and suggested Vietnam share its experience in fully tapping strengths and potential for development, towards establishing a Laos-Vietnam industrial park.

PM Chinh hailed joint efforts in speeding up several key projects in recent times and exploring new cooperation directions and methods to bring the bilateral partnership into a new phase of more substantive and effective development. He pledged to incentivize relevant Vietnamese agencies to boost closer coordination with Laos.

On the occasion of the upcoming New Year, Kommasith conveyed the warm regards and best wishes from Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane to their Vietnamese counterparts.