Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his wife paid a goodwill visit to Laos on Friday in response to an invitation from his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong.
This is Mr Dung's first official visit abroad after he was re-elected Prime Minister by the Vietnamese National Assembly in July.
Mr Thongsing Thammavong ( left ) and Mr Nguyen Tan Dung inspect a guard of honour from the Lao People's Army during the official welcoming ceremony in Vientiane yesterday.
During a meeting with Mr Thongsing at the Government Office in Vientiane yesterday, both leaders agreed to boost cooperation in human resource development, build a peaceful shared border area through sustainable development, and promote trade cooperation, investment, and communication and transportation links.
Concerning trade, the two premiers agreed to implement and disseminate information about priority mechanisms on tariffs of goods produced in Laos and Vietnam.
They also agreed to closely supervise border crossings by Lao and Vietnamese nationals to prevent illegal migration and resettlement.
The two leaders agreed to ensure the completion of the Ho Chi Minh memorial in Khammuan province in central Laos.
They also agreed to prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Laos, the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation, and the “Year of Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity”.
Mr Thongsing was confident that Mr Dung's visit would contribute to consolidating relations, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.
The Lao PM congratulated the Vietnamese government on its achievements in socio-economic development in the past year, which have contributed to maintaining stability and security and improving the livelihoods of the Vietnamese people as well as raising the profile and reputation of Vietnam in the international arena.
Mr Thongsing said that despite complex changes in the world and internal challenges, bilateral relations would be strengthened and expanded because Laos will do its best to nurture cooperative relations and friendship with Vietnam.
Also yesterday, Mr Dung visited National Assembly President Ms Pany Yathortou before calling on the Secretary General of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of Laos, Mr Choummaly Sayasone.
Mr Dung said he appreciated the efforts and contributions of Lao leaders to enhancing the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
He said Laos encouraged more Vietnamese entrepreneurs to do businesses in Laos, and Lao leaders congratulated Mr Dung on his re-election as the Prime Minister of Vietnam.
According to the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnam is among the leading foreign investors in Laos with Vietnamese firms investing in 252 projects between 2000 and 2010 worth about US$2.77 billion.
Vietnam is the third biggest trading partner of Laos after Thailand and China. Two-way trade reached US$490 million in 2010 and both sides agreed to reach a trade turnover of US$2 billion by 2015.
Today, Mr Dung will attend a meeting on investment cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.
