(MPI) – In the morning of February 08th 2017, the 39th Vietnam – Laos Intergovernmental committee meeting was taken place in Ha Noi. H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of SRV and H.E. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Lao PDR co-chaired the meeting.
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Whole scene of the meeting. Photo: Duc Trung (MPI)
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Attending the meeting, there were Mr. Nguyen Chi Dung, Member of Central Committee of the Communist Party, Minister of the MPI of Vietnam, Chairman of the Vietnam – Laos Cooperation Committee and his Lao counterpart Mr. Souphan Keomixay, and representatives of related ministries, branches and localities of the two countries.
Speaking at the meeting opening, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that Lao Prime Minister’s delegation is the first senior international delegation visiting and working in Vietnam in this Lunar Year. This is the first meeting co-chaired by the two Prime Ministers, elevating bilateral ties in directing, operating deployment of cooperative tasks. In 2017, the two countries will celebrate the 55thanniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and 40thanniversary of signing the Treaty of Vietnam - Laos amity and cooperation (TAC).
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested the MPI of the two countries to promote intellectual ability, provide specific and objective assessments on cooperative results recently, thereby set out solutions to further improve bilateral cooperative efficiency in the coming time.
Regarding socio-economic situation of Vietnam in 2016, H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc informed that this is the first year implementing 2016-2020 Socio-economic development Plan against many difficulties and challenges. With the motto of building an incorruptible, facilitating and action-oriented Government to serve people and firms, Vietnam has innovated the leadership modal and achieved most of the socio-economic targets set forth.
Speaking at the meeting, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith thanked Vietnam for the effective, comprehensive and timely support, cooperation in the last time and highly appreciated Vietnam’s assistance for Laos to successfully assume the role Chair of ASEAN 2016 and hold ASEAN Summit.
Mr. Nguyen Chi Dung, Member of Central Committee of the Communist Party, Minister of the MPI of Vietnam, and Chairman of the Vietnam – Laos Cooperation Committee reported cooperative results in 2016 and orientation in 2017. Vietnam – Laos cooperation achieved positive outcomes on the fields of commerce, investment, transportation, education – training and human resource development, agriculture and rural development, natural resources…
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Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at the meeting. Photo: Duc Trung (MPI)
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At the meeting conclusion, the two Prime Ministers informed outcomes of the meeting to media agencies. Contents and orientations discussed at the meeting are very important in concretizing high-level agreements, further facilitating ministries, branches, localities and enterprises of the two countries to deploy cooperative agreements, towards successfully implementing plans in 2017. Some major contents were assessed at the meeting. As for cooperation, the two sides highly appreciated and pleasured at outcomes of bilateral comprehensive cooperation in 2016; Successful organization the visits and meetings of senior leaders. Especially, political, foreign affairs, national defense & security, economic, socio – cultural cooperation and people exchange have been increasingly strengthened and developed extensive. Education – training has been boosted with more than 14 thousand Lao students pursuing studies in Vietnam. Vietnamese firms have poured nearly US$ 3.7 billion into more than 400 projects in Laos.
Regarding cooperative orientation in the coming time, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that the two sides agreed to focus on implementing cooperative agreements well; Striving to bring two-way trade turnover in 2017 increasing by 10% as compared to 2016; Expanding cooperation in human resources training, transportation infrastructure to connect the two countries and management and sustainable use of water and natural resources.
H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized that after the meeting, Vietnam Government would drastically direct ministries, branches, localities, businesses and related units to closely coordinate with Laos to deploy and carry out effectively agreements. Vietnam Government also sets the goals to facilitate enterprises producing and doing their business in Laos. The meeting created new motivation to promote bilateral cooperation to become increasingly real and effective, significantly contributing to strengthen traditional friendship relation, special solidarity and Vietnam – Laos comprehensive cooperation.
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith agreed with the Vietnamese counterpart and the contents discussed at the meeting. At the meeting, Lao side offered many cooperative projects and proposals and has been agreed with by Vietnamese side. Laos will immediately carry out documents signed at the meeting and propagate for all people that Laos – Vietnam cooperation bases on a spirit of mutual assistance, special solidarity, and bilateral comprehensive cooperation.
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Vietnamese Minister of the MPI Nguyen Chi Dung and Lao Minister of the MPI Souphan Keomixay. Photo: Duc Trung (MPI)
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At the meeting, the two sides signed 4 documents: Agreement on cooperation plan in 2017 between the two Governments; Minutes of the 39thmeeting of Vietnam – Laos Intergovernmental Committee on bilateral cooperation between the two governments; Collaboration plan between the two Ministries of Education in 2017; Minutes on the establishment of a joint-venture company to build a 500 KV power transmission line connecting the two countries.
Under the meeting, awarding ceremony the noble titles to the collective and individuals of the Office of Bilateral Cooperation Committee for their achievements in 2011-2015. Thongloun Sisoulith awarded Isala Medal Third Class for Minister of the MPI Nguyen Chi Dung./.