Vientiane (VNA) – Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith co-chaired the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee in Vientiane, Laos, onFebruary 5.

The Lao PM congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economicachievements in 2017, and showed his deep gratitude to the Party, State,Government and people of Vietnam for supporting Laos’s revolution.

He highlighted the significance of the committee’s 40th meeting, especially after Vietnam and Laos completed the Laos-Vietnam,Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017 as well as activities marking the55th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and 40 years of the bilateralTreaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

He showed his belief that following the meeting thepartnership between the two countries will be deepened and the traditionalfriendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the twocountries will be brought to a new height.

PM Phuc expressed his delight at major attainments ofLaos in the past year, saying that he believes the Party, State, Government andpeople of Laos will continue successfully implement the resolution of the 10th Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the country’s socio-economicplan in the 2016-2020 period.

He underlined that the ties between Vietnam and Laosare special and need to be unceasingly reinforced and developed, affirming thatVietnam always attaches special importance to boosting the partnership with Laosduring the national construction, and will exert every efforts to enhance theties in all fields.

In 2017, the two countries realized bilateralagreements efficiently, the leaders noted, adding that affiliation in politics,external relations, defence, security, economy, culture, society, andpeople-to-people exchange was also expanded. Currently, Vietnam is hosting over14,000 Lao students.

Meanwhile, the mechanisms in coordinating and strengtheningcooperation between the two sides showed effectiveness. Vietnamese enterpriseshave registered to invest in 411 projects worth about 3.7 billion USD in Laos,43 percent of which, or 1.6 billion USD, have been disbursed.

In 2017, two-way trade hit over 935 million USD, arise of nearly 13.6 percent over 2016, surpassing the yearly target.

In 2018, the two sides will focus on implementing thejoint statement and agreements reached by senior leaders, as well as dealsbetween ministries, sectors and localities, including those reached during thismeeting.

They will double efforts to achieve a 10 percentgrowth in two-way trade, while expanding collaboration in human resourcestraining, investing in transport infrastructure projects to connect the twocountries, and coordinating in managing the sustainable use of water andnatural resources.

They will also support and cooperate with each otherat regional and international organisations and forums.

This is the second time the Vietnamese and Lao PMshave co-chaired a meeting of the bilateral Inter-Governmental Committee,showing the determination of leaders of both countries in effectivelyimplementing cooperation agreements in 2018.   

After the meeting, thetwo PMs witnessed the signing of 12 cooperation documents of ministries,departments and localities in the fields of economics, trade, investment,education-training and energy.

The documents include a deal on Vietnam-Laoscooperation plan in 2018 and the minutes of the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-LaosIntergovernmental Committee.

The Vietnamese and Lao governments inked anagreement on investment cooperation to develop Vung Ang port. 

Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade andLaos’s Ministry of Energy and Mines inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)on collaboration in energy and mining, while Vietnam’s Ministry of Educationand Training and Laos’s Ministry of Education and Sports signed a bilateralcooperation plan in 2018.

An agreement implementing the mineral survey andgeological mapping project in Borikhamxay-Xaysomboun region was signed betweenVietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Laos’s Ministry ofEnergy and Mines.

The Vietnamese northern province of Hoa Binh andthe Lao eastern province of Houaphanh reached an agreement on the constructionof a high school in Huameuang district, Houaphanh province.

The Military Zone 4 High Command of VietnamPeople’s Army inked an agreement carrying out projects in Laos’s Xaysombounprovince.

Other documents include a MoU on the trade ofelectricity from the thermal power plant in Bualapha district, Khammouaneprovince, between Laos’s Lanxang power development and real estate company andthe Electricity of Vietnam (EVN); and another on the purchase of electricityfrom some hydropower projects of Laos’s Phongsapthavy Group between EVN andPhongsapthavy road-irrigation construction company.

The EVN along with the Lao power company,Hanoi-Vientiane infrastructure and power development joint venture company, andPhongsapthavy group signed a MoU on studying the development of a 500kVsuper-cable line connecting electricity from Laos to Vietnam.

The PetroVietnam Power Corporation and the LaoPT company sealed a cooperation framework agreement on hydropower developmentin Luang Prabang, whilst Laos’s Chaleun Sekong company and Vietnam’s Song Da 5company secured a cooperation agreement on investment in hydropower projects.

After the signing ceremony, the Vietnamese andLao government leaders chaired a joint press conference informing the outcomesof the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee and attendeda ceremony to honour units and individuals for active contributions toVietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Year of Friendship and Solidarity in 2017.-VNA