Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (Photo: VNA)Vietnam and Laosare among very few countries to have maintained in-person meetings and visitsat the highest level given the pandemic, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos NguyenBa Hung told the media.
Last year, Lao PrimeMinister Thongloun Sisoulith visited Vietnam three times, in June, August and December,while Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc paid a visit to the neighbouring country in May, he went on.
Theinter-governmental committee convened two meetings within a year for the firsttime, demonstrating the two governments’ promptness in reviewing and promoting bilateralties before Laos’ 11th National Party Congress and Vietnam’s 13th National Party Congress, he said.
Hung emphasisedthe two countries’ mutual support in pandemic-related issues, saying PM Phuc vowedto help Laos with medical supplies during phone talks with his Lao counterparttwo days after the first COVID-19 case was detected in the country.
Two weeks later,Vietnam sent experts to Laos to share experience in combating the pandemic, whileVietnamese ministries, agencies, and localities also played a part in thisregard.
Of particularnote, the two countries have facilitated cross-border travel by citizens aswell as trade in goods in line with COVID-19 prevention and control measures,with two-way trade estimated at nearly 1 billion USD last year.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung (Photo: VNA)The ambassadorsaid Vietnam and Laos will further deepen their political ties in 2021 whileenhancing cooperation in national defence, security, and external affairs.
They will alsoraise the efficiency of cooperation in economy, culture, education, health care,and science-technology, and expand exchanges between citizens as well aslocalities.
He suggestedintensifying mutual support in dealing with the consequences of COVID-19 inorder to quickly resume economic growth.
According to theambassador, Laos is the largest recipient of Vietnam’s overseas investment, amountingto 4.22 billion USD to date in 414 projects.
Apart fromcitizen protection, which is considered a top priority in the face of thepandemic, the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos has paid attention to facilitatingVietnamese investment in the country through various activities, he said./.
VNA
