(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a cordial meeting with Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos in Vientiane on Tuesday prior to the opening session of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and related meetings.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith (Source: VNA)

Mr. Phuc praised Laos’s Presidency of ASEAN summit and its organization of related meetings to boost solidarity within the ASEAN bloc for peace and development in the region and the world. The two sides expressed their delight at developments in bilateral ties. They also agreed to enhance their cooperation, especially in economics, trade and investment. The two leaders agreed to implement effectively the signed agreements between the two countries, including a trade agreement and a border trade agreement between Vietnam and Laos.

The same day, the Prime Minister met with General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President Bounnhang Volachith and Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Pany Yathotou. The two sides agreed to effectively translate the agreements into deeds and coordinate with each other to organize the annual meeting of their two politburos and the 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee late this year, along with the fourth theoretical conference of the two Parties. They will also partner with each other to conduct activities marking the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. The PM urged the two legislatures to enhance their coordination in supervising the implementation of high-level agreements, especially those reached at the 38th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee, facilitating joint investment projects.