The Government chief made the statement at the yesterday's meeting to review cooperation with Laos in 2017 and discuss cooperation orientations with the neighbor in 2018.According to a report by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the two nations exchanged more than 300 visits at all levels and saw significant progress in economic cooperation in 2017. They have worked together to promptly remove obstacles and step up trade and investment promotion activities.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc presided over the meeting
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Vietnam-Laos trade in the first 11 months of 2017 exceeded 808 million USD, up roughly 10 percent from 2016. Vietnam granted 1,246 scholarships to Lao students, 246 higher than the number pledged by the two Governments.
PM Phuc said that 2017 was a year of solidarity between the two countries and both sides successfully organised grand ceremonies to mark 55th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties and 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty on Amity and Cooperation.
The two nations should promote bilateral cooperation in various fields, he said, asking relevant sides to effectively coordinate to carefully prepare for the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation to be held later this year.
Vietnam will continue its support for Laos in socio-economic development, he noted, adding that inspections must be carried out to accelerate the progress of some key cooperation projects.
The PM also highlighted remarkable diplomatic activities in the Friendship Year 2017 as the two countries celebrated the 55th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty on Amity and Cooperation.
The two countries also effectively implemented the Resolution of their Politburos and organized the 39th meeting of the Inter-governmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation. Numerous projects and activities were deployed comprehensively in 2017 in all areas, PM Phuc stressed.
In 2018, the Government chief urged inferior levels to continue accelerating bilateral cooperation with Laos in various fields, focusing on co-exploitation of the Vung Ang port and power projects. He asked for good preparations for the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation this year.
