President To Lam arrived at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos Thursday morning for the state visit. - Photo: Vietnam News/ANN
VIENTIANE: Vietnam’s President To Lam arrives in Laos on Thursday (July 11) for a two-day state visit, during which numerous cooperation pacts are expected to be signed, paving the way for enhancement of the 62-year relationship and cooperation between the two nations.
This will be the Vietnamese President’s first trip abroad after taking up office in May.
President To Lam, 67, served as Minister of Public Security before assuming the presidency role.
The visit symbolises the Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent policy on attaching great importance and giving the highest priority to reinforcing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
Made in response to an invitation from his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith, who is also Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, the visit provides an opportunity for the two leaders to review and evaluate bilateral relations and cooperation over past years.
The leaders will also discuss and agree on major orientations, policies and measures to promote the comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and two countries in 2024 and the following years, Ambassador Hung was quoted as saying.
The leaders will exchange views on global and regional situations and coordination between the two sides at forums and in the settlement of regional and international issues relating to each country and bilateral relations.
The two sides will sign a number of important cooperation agreements during the visit, which takes place when the bilateral relationship and cooperation are growing strongly, according to VNA.
The value of two-way trade between Laos and Vietnam in the first quarter of 2024 reached US$476.8 million, an increase of 12 percent over the same period last year.
Vietnam has so far invested in 245 projects in Laos with total registered capital of US$5.5 billion, placing it among the top three foreign investors in Laos.
The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visit aims to enhance the great friendly relations, special solidary and comprehensive cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
In preparation for the leaders’ meeting, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith and his delegation made a two-day working visit to Vietnam on July 4-5 when the two sides discussed the agenda.
Their talks touched on ways to address shortcomings regarding cooperation in the energy and mines sector, development of the Vung Ang seaport in Vietnam’s central Ha Tinh province, and road and rail connectivity.
Vietnam has agreed to increase Laos’ share in the Vung Ang port to 60 percent at Laos’ request, which will see the latter become the major shareholder as the landlocked country seeks to create a viable sea trade route.
Laos and Vietnam have also agreed to build a railway linking Vientiane to the Vung Ang seaport.
The two countries also plan to build an expressway linking their capitals, Hanoi and Vientiane, which is estimated to be 707km long. - Vientiane Times/ANN
