Laos, Vietnam bolster cooperation in foreign affairs, border control

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Laos and Vietnam have extended cooperation in encouraging and monitoring the implementation of collaboration in all fields over the next five years.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, and Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pham Binh Minh, on Sunday signed a cooperation agreement for the period 2021-2025, replacing the existing one which expires this year. Mr Minh led the Vietnamese delegation attending the seventh political consultation meeting between the two ministries, which continued in Vientiane yesterday.
The two sides reviewed overall bilateral cooperation as well as cooperation between the two ministries and discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest.

They expressed appreciation of the great friendship, solidarity, and all-round cooperation between the two parties, governments and peoples, which they said had been enriched.
They highly valued the contribution of the two ministries as a bridge in relations and collaboration between the two countries, and as counsellors to higher authorities on foreign affairs, and in monitoring bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, and socio-cultural fields.
The two parties agreed to continue to strengthen exchange visits by high-level leaders through various platforms, and effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms.
Laos praised Vietnam for the country’s successful chairmanship of Asean this year, and thanked Vietnam for its steady support to Laos such as in response to Covid-19 and natural disaster aid.
Even though Vietnam itself has faced severe natural disasters, the country assisted Laos by sending 1,000 tonnes of rice to Savannakhet province when floods hit the area in October.
Mr Saleumxay, who is Head of the Lao-Vietnamese Border Delegation, and Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of the Vietnamese-Lao Border Delegation, Le Hoai Trung, jointly led the annual meeting.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of the agreement reached in 2016 on the regulation on borders and border crossing management, and the record of the 29th meeting.
The delegations assessed the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters on border areas in the past year, especially on the work of the delegations, the passage of people and vehicles, goods transport, livelihoods, and officials as a result of the lockdown.
The two sides discussed the protection and management of borders and border markers, and plans for post-Covid-19 cooperation and overall cooperation next year. Meeting participants said they highly valued the efforts of border organisation units at both the central and local levels, as well as border officials in carrying out their duties, especially during the pandemic. They noted that no cases of Covid-19 had been recorded in border areas.
The two sides agreed to educate people on the agreements and regulations, including the response to Covid-19 in border areas.
This would build their understanding of the Parties’ and governments’ dedication to border issues, which would help to strengthen the two countries’ long-standing friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, with the aim of building a border of everlasting peace, friendship, and cooperation in sustainable development.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update December 1, 2020)