Promoting Vietnam-Lao special relationship

June 20, 2011

(VOV) - It is rare for any nations in the world like Vietnam and Laos, which have long maintained their traditional ties of special, loyal and pure fraternal friendship.

General Secretary and Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Phu Trong visited Laos from June 20-22 at the invitation of Party General Secretary and State President of Laos Choummaly Sayasone.

This is the first time Laos has welcomed a foreign leader after the success of the 9^th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP).

The visit is of great significance, showing the two parties and states’ wish to bring the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos to a new height.

The socio-economic achievements made by the Lao people during the renewal process have helped the country raise its international and regional status.

In terms of socio-economic development, Laos has surpassed its set targets over the past five years. In 2010, Laos’ GDP reached 7.9 percent with per capita income of US$1,069 and its inflation rate of 5.98 percent.

Attention is also given to poverty reduction in Laos with the current poverty rate dropping to 20 percent. In the first half of this year, the country’s GDP rose 8.5 percent and its export-import turnover hit nearly US$2 billion.

Laos is striving to shed its status as an underdeveloped nation by 2020 and reach a GDP growth rate of 7.5-8 percent with per capital income of US$1,800.

Concerning external relations, Laos continues to persist with the external policy of peace, independence, friendship, cooperation, openness, multilateralisation and diversification of relations with countries and territories on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Laos has so far had relations with more than 100 political parties and established diplomatic ties with 131 countries around the world. The country has opened its embassy in 25 countries, five consulates general and two regional and international representative offices.

Laos is proposing for its entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The country’s successful organization of major international conferences and events has earned international acclaim.

The 11^th National Congress of the Vietnam Communist Party (CPV) and the 9^th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) continue to affirm their policies of strengthening the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, considering it an invaluable asset of the two peoples, an important factor behind national development and construction.

Over the past few years, cooperation in politics, security and national defence has been enhanced through regular exchange of visits by senior leaders and representatives from ministries and sectors.

The two sides have maintained a mechanism for sharing first-hand information and experience in the renewal process and Party building. They have recently completed scholarly works on Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam special relationship.

In terms of economic cooperation, Vietnam is one of the three biggest foreign investors in Laos with 248 projects worth US$ 3.1 billion.

Two-way trade turnover between the two countries has reached nearly US$500 million and is expected to hit US$2 billion by 2015.

Party and State leaders have also paid special attention to education, training and human resource development. As many as 4,700 Lao students and cadres are studying in Vietnam and 420 Vietnamese cadres and post graduates are studying at Laos National University.

Vietnam and Laos have signed cooperation documents such as a cooperation strategy for the 2011-2020 period, a 2011-2015 cooperation agreement and a cooperation agreement for 2011. Both countries have compared notes and closely coordinated in dealing with international and regional issues at multilateral forums of ASEAN+3, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and the United Nations.

The official friendship visit to Laos by General Secretary and Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Phu Trong once again demonstrate Vietnam’s unswerving policy of promoting the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

There is high hope that the visit will be very successful, raising the Vietnam-Laos relationship to a higher level.