Laos, Vietnam sign 14 agreements to strengthen ties

Laos and Vietnam have signed 14 cooperation agreements during an official goodwill visit to Laos by Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

According to Local daily Vientiane Times report on Tuesday, the agreements were signed at the Presidential Palace in Lao capital Vientiane on Monday, witnessed by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president.

Seven of the agreements concerned government cooperation and comprised the construction of an army cultural school for ethnic people, rescue cooperation, supplementary cooperation plan for 2020 between the public security ministries of the two countries, cooperation agreement for 2021-2025 between the presidential offices of Laos and Vietnam, cooperation plan for 2022 on laws and justice, agreement on efforts to counter the drug trade, and a cooperation agreement between Xaysomboun province of central Laos and a province in Vietnam.

Other agreements concerned the private sector and included a mining concession in central Laos' Bolikhamxay province, a Memorandum of Understanding on hydropower development in northern Laos' Huaphan province, agreement to buy electricity from the Nam Ou and Nam Ngum 4 dams, and other electricity purchasing and mining agreements.

This was the first official overseas visit by Phuc since he became president of Vietnam.

It is also the first time this year that Laos has received a head of state from a foreign country.

During their meeting, the two presidents agreed to deepen the relations, friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

They agreed to more exchange visits by high-level delegations and to push for the implementation of programs and agreements signed by the two countries.

The two leaders agreed it was important to place more emphasis on national defense and public security to counter challenges and facilitate development.

The two presidents agreed with proposals made by various sectors in Laos and Vietnam to strengthen collaboration in infrastructure connectivity, tourism, energy cooperation and clean agriculture, which will strengthen the foundations for driving economic growth in Laos and Vietnam.

The Vietnamese president also met with Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh to further discuss cooperation.