Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Suphan Keomisay on November 4 (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – A number of important issues will be discussed while many agreements are expected to be signed during an upcoming visit to Laos by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told a Lao official on November 4.
Meeting with Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Suphan Keomisay in Hanoi, the PM said the upcoming visit by the Vietnamese Party leader is important to both countries, thus they need to make thorough preparations for this trip, especially cooperation documents to be inked.
He highlighted the special and time-tested Vietnamese-Lao relations, asking the two sides to work closely to realise the two governments’ cooperation plan for 2016 and prepare for the 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos intergovernmental committee slated for next year.
Regarding certain issues, PM Phuc said as a landlocked country, Laos could transport goods via Vietnam’s ports. Whether it chooses to use Vung Ang port or Cua Lo port in central Vietnam, it must comply with local regulations.
The two sides need to provide the best possible conditions for the scheduled implementation of power projects and the electricity sale and purchase, he noted, asking the Lao Government to continue improving investment climate and facilitate Vietnamese businesses’ operations.
He assured that the Vietnamese Government is also making efforts to promote the local business environment on par with that of the four other ASEAN countries of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines in the near future.
The Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam cooperation committees should also work harder to fulfill tasks assigned by their respective countries’ Politburos and governments, the host said, pointing out modest bilateral trade compared to the two neighbours’ potential and relations.
For his part, Minister Suphan Keomisay said his working visit to Vietnam aims to prepare for the coming visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
He said that he hopes the two ministries of planning and investment will strengthen economic and investment partnerships between their nations, and that Laos wants to promote the electricity sale and purchase with Vietnam.-VNA
