Vietnam - Laos Joint Statement
During the visit of the General Secretary and President of Laos to Vietnam, the two sides issued a Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement.
At the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Tran Dai Quang, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Bounnhang Vorachit led a high-level delegation of the Lao Party and State on an official friendly visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from December 19-21, 2017.
During the visit, the two sides issued a Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement. VOV is pleased to present the full text of the Joint Statement:
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| General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachit review the honor guard of the Vietnam People's Army. |
1At the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Tran Dai Quang, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Bounnhang Vorachit led a high-level delegation of the Lao Party and State on an official friendly visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from December 19-21, 2017.
During the visit, General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachit held talks with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong; met with President Tran Dai Quang and jointly declared the closing of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017; met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; visited several former key leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State; received the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association; met with representatives of former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos, young Vietnamese people and Lao students in Vietnam; and visited several economic and cultural establishments in Hanoi, Nghe An province and the 4th Military Region Command.
2- Both sides emphasized that the official friendship visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachit is a historically significant milestone, as the two countries have successfully coordinated the organization of the 2017 Year of Solidarity and Friendship.,Commemorating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
Both sides affirmed that, inheriting the tradition of close relations from history, over the past 55 years, the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have achieved great, comprehensive, very important, and historically significant results. They emphasized that these achievements stem from the special solidarity built by the great President Ho Chi Minh and the beloved President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong, and diligently nurtured by generations of leaders of the two Parties, two States, and peoples of the two countries. This has become an invaluable common asset of the two Parties and two nations, a law of existence and development, and an important factor ensuring the success of the revolutionary cause of each country.
Both sides sincerely thank each other for the immense, valuable, heartfelt, sincere, and effective 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, protection, and development of the country.
Both sides affirmed their commitment to continuing to inherit and strongly promote that fine tradition to protect, preserve, and constantly develop the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, the two States, and the peoples of the two countries, considering this a matter of vital importance to the future of the two nations, for the prosperity and happiness of the peoples of both countries, and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
3- In an atmosphere of warm friendship, special solidarity, and mutual trust, the two sides informed each other about the outstanding situation of each Party and country; congratulated each other on the important results achieved after two years of implementing the Resolutions of the Congresses of each Party; affirmed that the results of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017 have profound significance in raising awareness among cadres, Party members, and people of the two countries, especially the younger generation, about the special friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, which is an important driving force to promote the development of relations between the two Parties, two States, and peoples of Vietnam and Laos to a new level; exchanged views and agreed on policies and measures to further develop relations between the two Parties, two States, and peoples of the two countries in a deeper, more practical, and effective manner in all fields, contributing to the successful implementation of the reform policies of each Party. The two sides also shared views on regional and international issues of common interest.
4- Both sides agreed to continue to coordinate closely and effectively implement the Agreements between the high-level leaders of the two Parties and States; the Vietnam-Laos Joint Statements of April 2016, November 2016, and April 2017 during the official friendly visits of high-level leaders of the two Parties and States.
5.Both sides agreed to strengthen and deepen political relations, providing direction for the overall cooperation between the two countries; to continue maintaining regular meetings and contacts between high-level leaders of the two Parties and States in various forms; to consolidate, improve, and enhance the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms between the two Parties and States; to expand cooperation and mutual assistance between Party committees, ministries, agencies, National Assembly committees, the Fatherland Front, mass organizations, people's organizations, and localities of the two countries, with an emphasis on exchanging theoretical and practical knowledge, sharing experiences on Party building, building a strong political system, socio-economic development, and international integration; to focus on coordinating the training and development of cadres at all levels; and to promote widespread dissemination of information among all segments of the population, especially the younger generation of both countries, about the tradition of the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos. Continue to coordinate the construction of projects and the restoration of historical sites related to Vietnam-Laos relations in each country.
6-Both sides affirmed the importance and agreed to strive to promote and enhance the effectiveness of cooperation in economics, investment, trade, culture, education and training, health, and science and technology, based on effectively leveraging the potential and strengths of each country. Both sides will coordinate to effectively implement high-level agreements, treaties, and cooperation agreements between the two governments, as well as cooperation programs between ministries, sectors, and localities of the two countries. Priority will be given to connecting the two economies, especially in transportation, energy, tourism, and effectively utilizing Vietnam's seaports for the development of both countries, in accordance with the agreements between the two sides, through appropriate forms. They will also exchange views to find concrete solutions to ensure the progress of several key Vietnamese investment projects in Laos; and improve the quality of cooperation in education, training, and human resource development.
Both sides affirmed their commitment to continue creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Laos and the Lao community in Vietnam to live, work, and study in accordance with the regulations and laws of each country and international practices. Vietnam thanked Laos for valuing the positive contributions of the Vietnamese community to the protection and development of Laos.
7- Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on defense and security, considering this a pillar in the relationship between the two countries to maintain political stability, security, order, and social safety in each country. Both sides will coordinate to effectively implement cooperation agreements on defense and security; the Agreement on Border Management and Border Crossing Regulations, and the Protocol on the Border Line and Boundary Markers; build a peaceful, friendly, stable, 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; coordinate in preventing and combating transnational crimes, especially the trafficking of narcotics; and continue efforts to coordinate the search, excavation, and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos.
8-Both sides agreed to share information promptly and coordinate closely and effectively, supporting each other in international and regional forums, especially at the United Nations, ASEAN, and the Mekong Sub-region cooperation mechanisms, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. Laos congratulated Vietnam on successfully hosting APEC Year 2017; Vietnam sincerely thanked Laos for supporting Vietnam in fulfilling its responsibilities as the APEC host country.
Both sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation and coordinating closely with each other and with relevant countries and international organizations to manage and sustainably and effectively utilize the Mekong River water, ensuring a harmonious balance of interests among the countries in the Mekong River basin; and to establish a coordination mechanism between the two sides and relevant parties to monitor and assess the comprehensive impacts of water use.Mekong River; strengthening coordination with Cambodia to promote the effective implementation of the Agreement between the three Prime Ministers on the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Development Triangle.
Both sides reiterated the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and safety in the South China Sea; resolving maritime disputes through peaceful means based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; and working 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.
9- General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachit sincerely thanked the Party, State and people of Vietnam, and thanked General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang and other high-ranking Vietnamese leaders for the warm and fraternal welcome, which vividly demonstrated the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.
General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachit respectfully invited General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his wife, President Tran Dai Quang and his wife, and other high-ranking leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State to visit Laos. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang, and other high-ranking leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State happily accepted the invitation; the specific dates of the visits will be arranged through diplomatic channels.
According to VOV
