Vietnam - Laos Joint Statement

During the official friendship visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-level Party delegation to the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the two sides issued a Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement.

1. At the invitation of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Bounnhang Volachith, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, and a high-level delegation of the Party and State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam paid an official friendly visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic from November 24 to 26, 2016.

During the visit, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith; met with Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Speaker of the National Assembly Pany Yathotou; received the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction Saysomphone Phomvihane; the Chairman of the Lao-Vietnam Friendship Association Vilayvong Butdakham; and visited former high-ranking leaders of the Lao Party and State; visited and spoke with staff, lecturers, and students of the National University of Laos; and visited several economic and cultural establishments in the capital Vientiane and Bolikhamxay province.

During the talks and meetings, held in an atmosphere of warm friendship, special solidarity, and mutual trust, the two sides informed each other about the situation of each Party and country in implementing the resolutions of their respective Party Congresses; exchanged views on policies and measures to further develop the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in a deeper, more effective, and substantive way; and also exchanged opinions on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

2. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith and other high-ranking Lao leaders sincerely congratulated each country on its great and historically significant achievements over the past 30 years of reform, and the important results in implementing the resolutions of each Party's Congress; expressing firm belief that, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the reform, construction, and defense of the Fatherland in Vietnam and Laos will continue to achieve many new and greater successes, building Vietnam and Laos into increasingly prosperous and strong nations, and continuously enhancing the position and prestige of the two countries in the region and the world.

3. Both sides affirm that the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, meticulously nurtured by the great President Ho Chi Minh and the beloved President Kaysone Phomvihane, President Souphanouvong, and successive generations of leaders of the two Parties, two States, and the people of the two countries, is an invaluable common asset of the two Parties and two nations, and is a fundamental principle for the existence and development of each country.

Both sides sincerely thanked each other for the immense, valuable, heartfelt, and loyal support and assistance that the two Parties, two States, and the people of the two countries have given each other throughout the process of national liberation and reunification in the past, as well as in the current process of renovation, construction, development, and protection of the country.

Both sides expressed great joy and enthusiasm at the fact that the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos are constantly being strengthened and developed, becoming increasingly profound, practical, and effective in all fields, amidst the rapidly changing and complex global and regional situation.

In the current revolutionary period, as the two Parties and two countries strive to achieve the goals and tasks set by their respective Party Congresses, protecting, preserving, and developing this vital relationship of solidarity is a shared responsibility of the two Parties, two States, and the people of both countries, especially the younger generation, in light of the history of the two nations. This ensures the sustainable development and future of both countries, and contributes positively to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

4. Both sides agreed to strengthen political relations; maintain regular meetings and contacts between high-level leaders of the two Parties and countries; continue to consolidate, improve, and enhance the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms between the two Parties and countries; expand cooperation and mutual assistance between Party committees, ministries, departments, National Assembly committees, the Fatherland Front, mass organizations, people's organizations, and localities of the two countries; and deepen exchanges on theory and practice, and experiences in Party building, political system building, socio-economic development, and international integration.

Focus on training and developing cadres, especially leaders and managers at all levels; promote propaganda and education about the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos among cadres, Party members, and all strata of the people, especially the younger generation of both countries; coordinate the successful organization of activities commemorating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 2017; continue to coordinate the construction of several projects and the restoration of historical relics related to the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos in each country.

5. Both sides affirmed the importance and agreed to work together to promote, expand, and enhance the effectiveness of cooperation in the fields of economics, culture, education, science, and technology in the context of current globalization and international integration. Accordingly, both sides agreed to coordinate effectively to leverage the potential and strengths of each country; to effectively implement high-level agreements, cooperation agreements between the two governments, and cooperation programs and plans between ministries, agencies, and localities of the two countries, with priority given to connecting the two economies, especially in terms of institutions, transportation infrastructure, energy, tourism, and the efficient use of Vietnam's seaports.

At the same time, specific measures should be taken to ensure the progress and quality of Vietnamese investment projects in Laos, increase bilateral trade turnover, effectively manage and utilize Vietnamese aid funds for Laos; and improve the quality of cooperation in the fields of education, training, and human resource development.

Both sides agreed to continue facilitating the residence, work, and study of each other's citizens in each country, in accordance with the laws of each country and international practices.

6. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on defense and security to maintain political stability, security, order, and social safety in each country; effectively implement cooperation agreements on defense and security; enhance coordination in managing and building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and sustainably developing Vietnam-Laos border; continue to effectively implement the Government-level Agreement on resolving issues related to free migration and unregistered marriages in the border areas of the two countries; closely coordinate in preventing and combating transnational crimes, especially smuggling and drug trafficking; and continue efforts to coordinate in searching for, excavating, and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos.

7. Both sides agreed to share information promptly and coordinate closely with each other at international and regional forums, especially the United Nations, ASEAN, and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, contributing to maintaining a peaceful, stable, cooperative, and developing international environment in Southeast Asia and the world. Vietnam highly appreciates and congratulates Laos on successfully organizing activities during its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2016. Laos sincerely thanks Vietnam for its support and close cooperation in helping Laos fulfill its responsibilities as ASEAN Chair.

Both sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation and coordinating closely with each other and with relevant countries and international organizations to manage and utilize the Mekong River water resources sustainably and effectively, while ensuring a harmonious balance of interests among the people of the Mekong River basin countries; and to strengthen coordination with Cambodia to effectively implement the agreements reached between the three Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam on the Development Triangle.

Both sides reiterated the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and safety in the South China Sea; agreed to promote the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and to work with relevant parties to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and to expeditiously achieve a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), contributing to the preservation of peace, security, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

8. General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong informed General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Bounnhang Volachith, and other high-ranking Lao leaders that: the Party, State, and people of Vietnam are donating to the Party, State, and people of Laos the National Assembly building at That Luang Square, Vientiane, and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is donating a high school building in Bolykhamxay province.

On behalf of the Party, State, and people of Laos, General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith sincerely thanked the Party, State, and people of Vietnam for the meaningful gifts and the profound solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents between the two countries: Memorandum of Understanding on the Gift of a Lao National Assembly Building; Memorandum of Understanding on the Gift of a High School Building to Bolikhamxay Province; and Cooperation Agreement between the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam's Mass Mobilization Department and the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction for the period 2016-2020.

Agreements were reached between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Laos on adjusting the Agreement on the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Strategy in the two provinces of Hua Phan and Xieng Khouang in Laos until 2020; an agreement between the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos on investment in the construction of the Hanoi-Vientiane expressway; an agreement between the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos on the 5-year plan (2016-2020) to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on the Vietnam-Laos Transport Cooperation Strategy; and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Laos on establishing a joint economic and trade cooperation website.

9. Both sides highly appreciated the positive results and profound significance of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's official friendship visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic, contributing to the further development of the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, making it deeper, more practical, and more effective, meeting the aspirations of the people of both countries, and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong sincerely thanked the Party, State and people of Laos, and thanked General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith and other high-ranking leaders of the Lao Party and State for the warm and fraternal welcome, which vividly demonstrated the close, loyal, and pure relationship of solidarity, friendship, and solidarity between the two Parties, two States and peoples of Vietnam and Laos.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong respectfully invited General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith and other high-ranking leaders of the Lao Party and State to visit Vietnam. General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith and the high-ranking leaders of the Lao Party and State sincerely thanked him and happily accepted the invitation; the specific dates of the visits will be arranged through diplomatic channels.

Vientiane, November 25, 2016

According to baotintuc.vn