Vietnam, Laos exchange two import legal documents on border issues

Under the cooperation agreement between the Foreign Ministries of Vietnam and Laos, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith co-chaired the 4th Vietnam-Laos ministerial-level consultation in Hanoi on December 6.

The two sides discussed bilateral ties and regional and international issues of shared concern and agreed on continued implementation of agreements reached at high-level bilateral meetings, and on preparations for high-level meetings and exchanges, including the Vietnam visit of Laotian Party leader and President Bunnhang Volachit, the meeting of the two Politburos, and the 40th meeting of the two countries’ Inter-government Committee.

The two diplomats noted with joy the positive development in all areas of traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation based on closer and trusted political relations. The effective implementation of high-level agreements and the basic finalization of the Plan on Cooperation Agreement between the two governments in 2017 have facilitated the implementation of Vietnam-Laos Bilateral Cooperation Agreement for the period 2016-2020.

Substantive results were obtained in security and defence cooperation with the completion of a project to upgrade border markers along their borderline.

They also focused on removing difficulties and obstacles so as to promote strategic economic connectivity, especially accelerating the implementation of major projects on transport connections and improving the quality and efficiency of education- training cooperation.

They reviewed celebrations of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of signing the bilateral Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Year of Solidarity and Friendship 2017.

The ministers exchanged the Protocol on Vietnam-Laos borderline and border markers and the Agreement on Vietnam-Laos border and border checkpoint management regulations, which became effective on September 5, 2017 on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

FM Minh asked the Lao government to continue providing support for Vietnamese nationals living in the country, especially in procedures on citizenship, issuance of long-term residence cards and business registration.

FM Kommasith hailed the achievements made by the Vietnamese Party, State and people this year, especially the successful hosting of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week and APEC Year 2017.

He agreed upon solutions proposed by Vietnam to deepen bilateral ties in the future and pledged to create optimal conditions for Vietnamese nationals, workers and businesses in Laos.

He promised his nation's best efforts to reinforce the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam.

Regarding regional and global issues of common interest, the two sides agreed to work closely together at regional and global forums, offer mutual consultation via bilateral and multilateral channels and at all levels, contributing to the further promotion of bilateral ties in external relations.

On the occasion, the Lao Foreign Minister presented Laos’s Labour Order, first class, to former Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Manh Hung in recognition of his great contributions to developing Vietnam-Laos relations.