Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (Photo: VNA)

During his 3-day stay in Vietnam, the Lao Prime Minister met with Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

At the meetings, the two sides agreed on cooperation direction in 2021 and in the next 5 and 10 years, focusing on the effective implementation of the Agreement on Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Plan in 2021 and other related agreements signed during the visit. They proposed many powerful and practical measures to further deepen the political and diplomatic relations, strengthen defense-security ties, continue to give special priority to education and training, and bolster economic cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam and Laos said they will closely coordinate and support each other in regional and global forums, especially in ASEAN, the Mekong sub-region cooperation mechanism and at the United Nations. The two sides will boost mutual consultation and enhance national status and self-reliance, particularly in security and strategic issues in the region, including the East Sea and Mekong. They will work with other ASEAN members to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, promote ASEAN's solidarity and centrality, and build the ASEAN Community 2025.