President To Lam's visit deepens Vietnam-Laos relations

Reporter: Ambassador, the State visit to Laos will be President To Lam's first foreign visit since taking office. What does the visit mean for the special relationship between the two countries, according to you?

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the Lao PDR Nguyen Ba Hung: President To Lam's visit to Laos this time is taking place in the context that the two Parties and two countries are strongly implementing each Party's resolutions and each country's socio -economic development plans and have achieved many outstanding achievements.

Besides, the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Laos is also on a very good development path, the agreements of the two Parties' senior leaders, the joint statements during the visits of the two countries' senior leaders, the cooperation agreements between the two governments are being actively implemented by both sides and achieving many important results in all fields.

This is the first foreign visit of President To Lam after being elected by the National Assembly of Vietnam as President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in June 2024. Comrade To Lam's choice of neighboring Laos as the first country to visit after taking office as President demonstrates that the Party and State of Vietnam have always been consistent in valuing and giving the highest priority to consolidating and cultivating the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

Therefore, this State visit to Laos by President To Lam is of great significance in the relationship between the two countries. This is an opportunity for President To Lam and General Secretary, President Thongloun Sisoulith and other Lao leaders to review and evaluate the cooperative relationship between the two Parties and the two countries in the past time; to exchange and agree on major orientations, policies and measures to promote the comprehensive cooperative relationship between the two Parties and the two countries in 2024 and the following years to become increasingly deeper and more effective; to discuss recent outstanding world and regional situations, coordination between the two countries in forums and in resolving regional and international issues related to each country and the relationship between the two countries.

Through this visit, the Party and State of Vietnam wish to convey to the world the message of the special, loyal, steadfast relationship, unique in the world between Vietnam and Laos; affirming the determination, together with Lao friends, to bring the cooperative relationship between the two countries to a new height. It is expected that during the visit, the two sides will sign a number of important cooperation documents.

Reporter: Ambassador, in the context of the current regional and world situation, what should Vietnam and Laos do to preserve and develop the special relationship between the two countries to become deeper, more effective and bring practical benefits to both countries?

Ambassador Nguyen Ba Hung : Currently, the situation is changing rapidly, unpredictably, along with the impact of the 4.0 Industrial Revolution, creating many intertwined opportunities and challenges.

To preserve and develop the special Vietnam-Laos relationship to become more in-depth, more effective and bring practical benefits to both countries and especially, as General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith said, no force can divide the relationship between the two countries, I believe that our two countries need to continue to stand side by side, enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation. In the immediate future, the two countries should focus on the following priorities:

Firstly, continue to deepen political relations, effectively implement high-level agreements, in particular, continue to maintain and improve the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms between high-ranking leaders of the two countries; thoroughly grasp and raise common awareness of the importance of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship for the people of the two countries.

Second, enhance the economic cooperation between the two countries by expanding and upgrading East-West transport connections; establish a synchronous cooperation mechanism and special policies to free up resources and create the most favorable conditions for businesses and people of the two countries to invest and do business; resolve difficulties with breakthrough solutions; promote new cooperation models (Vietnam-Laos +1 cooperation) to take advantage of the potential and strengths of the two countries and take advantage of the capital, experience and technology potential of partners; take advantage of free trade agreements to increase trade efficiency, expand markets and attract investment.

Third, focus on quality and efficiency in human resource development to meet the development needs of each country, while contributing to strengthening the solidarity and unity between the people of the two countries.

I believe that Vietnam and Laos will continue to walk side by side, develop richly and strongly, continue to consolidate and enhance the effectiveness of the special relationship between the two countries, and actively contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Thank you very much, Ambassador!

Source: https://nhandan.vn/chuyen-tham-cua-chu-tich-nuoc-to-lam-lam-sau-sac-them-moi-quan-he-viet-nam-lao-post818217.html