Vietnam, Laos issue joint statement

The statement said both sides agreed to strengthen political ties by maintaining regular meetings and exchanges between the two Parties and countries’ leaders, improve the efficiency of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and extend liaison and mutual support between Party commissions, ministries, National Assembly committees, trade unions, mass organizations and localities.

The two sides consented to improve the efficiency of collaboration across the fields of economy, culture, education, science-technology, well implement high-level agreements between the two governments and those between the two countries’ ministries and localities, with priority given to economic connectivity in institutions, transport infrastructure, energy, tourism and the effective use of seaports.

At the same time, both countries will devise specific measures to ensure the progress and quality of Vietnam’s investment projects in Laos, lift two-way trade, and effectively manage and use Vietnam’s financial assistance to Laos.

The two sides vowed all possible support to Vietnamese and Lao nationals living in the other country in line with the countries’ laws and international practices.

Vietnam and Laos will bolster their affiliation in national defence and security in order to maintain political stability and social safety and order. The two countries will continue to effectively implement the government-level agreement on the settlement of uncontrolled migration and unregistered marriages in the two countries’ border areas, work closely together to combat trans-national crimes, especially smuggling and drug trafficking, and push ahead with joint efforts to search for and repatriate remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos during the war.

They pledged to offer mutual support in regional and global forums, especially the United Nations, ASEAN and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms to maintain a global environment of peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the world.

Host and guest were committed to close coordination with countries and relevant international organisations in the sustainable and effective use and management of Mekong River water resources.

Underscoring the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea, they agreed to advocate the settlement of the East Sea dispute by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), and join related parties in fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards the early formulation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea for peace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The statement emphasised that both sides highly value the outcomes and significance of the Vietnamese Party General Secretary’s visit, which has contributed to deepening the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, meeting the aspirations of the two peoples.