Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) shakes hands with Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay  Kommasith (Photo: Nguyen Khang/VNA)

The two sides discussed bilateral ties and regional and international issues of common interest. They agreed on continued implementation of agreements reached at high-level bilateral meetings, and on preparations for high-level meetings and exchanges, including the Vietnam visit of Laotian Party leader and President Bunnhang Volachit, the meeting of the two Politburos, and the 40^th meeting of the two countries’ Inter-government Committee.

The ministers exchanged two important legal documents on border issues: the Protocol on the Vietnam – Laos’ borderline and national border marker and the Vietnam – Laos Agreement on Border and Border Gate Management Regulations. These two documents came into effect in early September as the two countries marked their 55^th anniversary of diplomatic ties.