Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son on December 17 had meetings with Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on the occasion of his visit to Laos to co-chair the 11th Vietnam-Laos political consultation at foreign ministerial level. 

Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith receives Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (left) on December 17. (Photo: VNA)

At the meeting with Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, Son reported to the Lao leader on the outcomes of the political consultation with Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane on December 16. He noted with pleasure the positive developments of bilateral cooperation across various fields, reflected in the meeting of Party General Secretary To Lam with Party General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith, and various high-level meetings. Economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries has seen significant progress towards the target of 2 billion USD in trade value in 2024. The two countries have also actively addressed obstacles for several key projects.

The Lao leader hailed the results of bilateral cooperation and urged both countries to actively exchange information and experiences in preparing for their respective national Party Congresses, as well as in Party building, political system development, socio-economic management and international integration.

He said he is delighted at the progress in solving problems in several key projects, contributing positively to Laos's socio-economic development and the bilateral relationship. The leader also commended the two Foreign Ministries for maintaining a regular cooperation mechanism to facilitate extensive discussions on important and strategic issues in bilateral relations, as well as regional and international cooperation.

In his meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Deputy PM Son congratulated Laos on successfully fulfilling its ASEAN Chair in 2024 and affirmed that the two foreign ministries will coordinate with relevant departments to effectively implement bilateral cooperation agreements, programmes, and projects, while actively preparing for important diplomatic activities, including the 47th meeting of Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.

The Lao PM emphasised that the Party, State, Government, and people of Laos prioritise strengthening the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam.

He highlighted the high political trust reflected in the frequent bilateral contacts between the prime ministers of the two countries in 2024 and appreciated the visit of Deputy PM Son and the political consultation mechanism between the foreign ministries of Vietnam and Laos, which he said positively contributes to boosting the Laos-Vietnam relations and cooperation on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

He said he will direct Lao ministries and sectors to review and promote the implementation of high-level agreements of the two countries, and took the occasion to call on Vietnamese corporations and businesses to invest more in Laos to help develop its economy and improve the lives of its people.

(Source: VNA)