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Top leader’s visits boost ties with Laos and Cambodia

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong’s official friendship visit to Laos from February 24-25 and his state visit to Cambodia from February 25-26 have enhanced the relations between the three Indochina countries. 

Vietnam-Laos special relations strengthened

The official friendship visit to Laos of Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong was the first overseas trip in his new positions as the top leader of both the Party and State of Vietnam. The visit aimed to strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity, mutual trust and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, States and peoples of Laos and Vietnam.

Over the past years, the relations between Laos and Vietnam have developed intensively, practically and effectively in all fields.

By December 2018, Vietnam had invested in 409 projects worth 4.1 billion US dollars in Laos, mostly in hydropower, mining, industrial plant growing, and services. Among the completed and operating projects are Xekaman 1 hydropower plant, Muong Thanh Vientiane Hotel, Crown Plaza and Viettel Laos.

The two sides have implemented a new bilateral trade agreement, a border trade deal and a revised protocol on goods transit, among others, while launching the “one door-one stop” at Lao Bao-Densavanh border gate.


Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachith and Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong
review the honor guard of the Laos People’s Army at the welcoming ceremony for the Vietnamese top leader. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA



The Vietnamese top leader holds talks with his Lao counterpart Bounnhang Vorachith. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA


The two leaders witness the signing of a deal on financial cooperation between the two governments. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA


They also witness the signing of an agreement between the two governments
on building the Vung Ang-Vientiane railway. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA



The leaders witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding between
the two Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment on response to climate change and biodiversity preservation.
Photo: Tri Dung/VNA 



The Lao top leader gives a toast to his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong at the banquet. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA


Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA


The Vietnamese leader has a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA


He also meets with Lao National Assembly Chairwoman Pany Yathotou. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA 

The Vietnamese top leader visits the construction of the Lao National Assembly House
-
a gift from the Vietnamese Party, State and people. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA​​

 



 
The Vietnamese leader lays a wreath at the monument for Lao martyrs. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong receives Politburo member and President
of the LFNC Central Committee Saysomphone Phomvihane. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA



The Vietnamese top leader has a meeting with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy
and representatives of Vietnamese people, students and enterprises in Laos. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA 

Two-way trade hit nearly 1 billion US dollars in 2018. Vietnam imports beverages, wood, mineral products and agricultural products from Laos and exports to the neighboring country oil and gas, fertilizer, steel, machines, electric equipment, construction materials and spare parts.

The Ministries of Transport of Vietnam and Laos signed a cooperation agreement for 2016-2020, while conducting transport connection projects within bilateral and sub-regional cooperation frameworks. Vietnam and Laos have collaborated in implementing two major projects, namely the Hanoi-Vientiane expressway with a length of about 725km and the Vung Ang-Tan Ap-Mu Gia-Thakhaek-Vientiane railway.

The two ministries also signed a memorandum of understanding on developing three wharfs at Vung Ang port, while speeding up the construction of Nongkhang airport in Houaphan province of Laos so the project can be completed in 2019 as scheduled.

In 2018, Vietnam granted 1,271 scholarships to Lao officials and students. So far, 14,686 Lao students have studied in Vietnam, and 260 Vietnamese are studying in Laos. Vietnam has also held 24 short-term courses for 497 managerial officials of Laos.

Through his visit, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong has affirmed Vietnam’s comprehensive support to Laos’ reform cause, national defense and construction, as well as the implementation of targets set by the 10th Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.


Vietnam-Cambodia ties further promoted

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong’s state visit to Cambodia has confirmed Vietnam’s priority in strengthening and enhancing the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia.

Bilateral economic and trade ties have made big strides. With 210 projects valued at more than 3 billion US dollars, Vietnam has become one of the five biggest investors in Cambodia. Vietnam’s projects focus on agriculture, banking, telecom-IT, industrial production, processing-manufacturing, commerce business and healthcare.

In 2018, eight new Vietnamese projects were licensed while four existing projects increased their investment, with accumulated capital of 33.8 million US dollars.  Meanwhile, Cambodia has run 19 projects worth 63.42 million US dollars in Vietnam, focusing on agriculture, forestry, fishery and commerce.

Two-way trade stood at 4.68 billion US dollars in 2018, up 23.76 percent against 2017. Of the amount, Vietnam’s exports were valued at 3.74 billion US dollars, up 34.98 percent and imports were worth about 963 million US dollars, up 6.46 percent year-on-year. Bilateral trade is expected to reach 5 billion US dollars by 2020.
 


People in Phnom Penh welcome Party and General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong
at Phnom Penh International Airport. Photo: Minh Hung/VNA 



Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and the Vietnamese top leader review the honor guard. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA


The Cambodian King warmly welcomes Party and General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA


The Vietnamese leader holds talks with the Cambodian King. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA


The Cambodian King hosts a banquet to welcome Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong.
Photo: Tri Dung/VNA



The Cambodian King gives a toast to the Vietnamese top leader. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA


Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong
and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA



Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong has a meeting with
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA



The leaders witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance
and the Secretariat General of the National Assembly of Cambodia on the construction of new administrative buildings for the latter. 
Photo: Tri Dung/VNA 



They witness the signing of a protocol on amendment to the Protocol for Implementation of the Agreement on Road Transportation
between the two governments. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA



He has a meeting with President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA


The Vietnamese leader also visits Queen Mother of Cambodia Norodom Monineath Sihanouk. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA


 
He visits Great Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia Tep Vong at Unalom pagoda in Phnom Penh. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA

Vietnam is the second largest source market of tourists to Cambodia. In October 2018, about 500,000 Vietnamese holidaymakers visited the country, while 222,000 Cambodian tourists visited Vietnam in 2017.

The two countries have also stepped up partnerships in agriculture, forestry, fishery, transport, electricity and mining.

Every year, Vietnam grants hundreds of scholarships in economics, science and technology to Cambodia. The country also receives from Cambodia 35 tertiary and postgraduate scholarships and 20 others in Khmer language and culture. The two sides are increasing cooperation in vocational training and human resources development.

Over the past years, Vietnam and Cambodia have developed their cooperative relations intensively and effectively, bringing in practical benefits to their peoples.
 
By VNA/VNP

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