Strengthening Comprehensive Cooperation between Vietnam and Laos

 

This year, we celebrate the 45^th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. This relationship has been built and fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane. It has experienced numerous challenges and is built on the flesh and blood of revolutionary cadres of the two nations, becoming an exceptional and rarely-seen cooperation in the current context of international relations. On July 18, 1977, two years after liberation, Laos and Vietnam signed the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, a very important turning point and the legal and political basis for relations between the two parties, states and peoples. In the new era, the relationship has been brought to a new high.

 

We are very happy and proud to know that during the past 45 years and especially the past 30 years, the traditional friendship, special relationship and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam have constantly been consolidated and developed extensively in all fields. The strong political relationship is groundwork for cooperation in other fields. Top leaders of the two parties and states have visited and exchanged experience for the cause of national construction and protection. Especially, the recent Vietnam visit by General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and the Laos visits by General Sectary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam have fortified mutual confidence and lifted cooperation between Laos and Vietnam to a new high. The Laos-Vietnam economic, commercial, cultural and social relations have continuously developed and progressed significantly to match the strength of both nations.

 

For decades, the Laos-Vietnam special relationship has not faded, but has been developed intensively. It has become an invaluable heritage for both peoples, has been the decisive factor for the victory of the two nations’ revolutions and has guided the development of our two nations. Currently, while the two countries are integrating into the world economy, the poems of great President Ho Chi Minh highlighting Vietnam-Laos friendship have everlasting value: literally, Vietnam-Laos our two nations, the sentiment is deeper than the Red River and Mekong River.

 

Can you comment on the economic relationship of Vietnam and Laos in recent years?
In recent years, top leaders have appreciated that Laos-Vietnam economic and commercial ties have progressed and become more efficient, proven by growth in bilateral trade revenue. In 2006, two-way trade revenue reached US$260 million, increasing 59 per cent against a year earlier. At present, the two nation’s goals are to raise trade turnover to US$1 billion in 2010 and US$2 billion in 2015.

Regarding investment, Vietnamese capital flowing into Laos has significantly increased: from 18 projects valued US$8.8 million in 1993-2000, to 52 projects in 2001-2007. Vietnam is now the third largest investor in Laos with 70 investment projects valued at more than US$500 million. Most projects focus on Laos’ strengths such as agro-forestry, transportation, hydroelectricity, industrial crop growing and mineral exploitation. The two sides also continue seeking measures enhancing the capacity and efficiency of commodity production development investment. 

 

To step up and develop sustainable and long-term cooperation between the two nations, which fields do we need to focus on in the coming time?
In recent years, Laos-Vietnam relations have progressed but, looking at the development demand and strengths of each nation, Laos and Vietnam need to make economic and trade ties correspond to our political ties as described in the strategic cooperation for 2001-2010. From that, the two agreed on key programmes such as education cooperation, human resource development and training quality improvement, sustainable border region development, cultural and information cooperation, investment cooperation, infrastructure linking, and service and tourism cooperation programmes, among others. In addition, the two continue cooperating in poverty reduction, commodity production development, industrial crop growing, mineral exploitation and hydroelectricity.

 

On the occasion of these celebrations this year,I would like to express deep gratitude to the Party, State and People of Vietnam who give immense, effective and wholehearted support and assistance to our Lao revolutionary cause. I believe that in any circumstance the Laos-Vietnam relationship will continue developing and be everlasting as President Kaysone Phomvihane said, “Mountains can erode and rivers can dry out, but the Laos-Vietnam friendship will be eternal, more solid than mountains and rivers.” I hope Vietnamese enterprises will invest more into Laos to contribute to the enrichment of our two nations. I wish the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam will continue being consolidated, everlasting and increasingly effective.