PM’s visit creates new momentum for Vietnam-Laos special ties Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s ongoing visit to Laos from April 26-27 is expected to create a new driving force for the enhancement of traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.    Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse  at the Wattay International Airport on April 26 As the first official visit to Laos since PM Phuc took office, the two-day visit is an important diplomatic event to celebrate the 55th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty on Amity and Cooperation. Vietnam and Laos recorded fruitful development in their relationship in various fields in recent years, especially in politics.  They two sides have cooperated closely at regional and international forums, contributing to each nation’s development and maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.  Joint statements and high-level agreements reached by leaders of the two Parties and States have been implemented, with the two sides exchanging high-raking visits, helping to enhance mutual trust between the Parties, Governments and people of Vietnam and Laos.  Bilateral defence cooperation has also improved, while the two countries have built a Vietnam-Laos borderline of peace, stability and cooperation, and fought hostile forces and transnational and drug crimes.  The project to increase and upgrade border markers along the boundary of Vietnam and Laos was completed with an agreement and a protocol inked in March last year, laying a legal foundation for cooperation between the two sides in managing the border.  Vietnam now has 408 projects worth 3.7 billion USD in Laos, contributing to the country’s socio-economic development and creating jobs for many local labourers.  Trade promotion activities between the two nations have been increased and new bilateral trade agreements and border trade agreements were implemented by both sides.  Vietnam and Laos also cooperated in transport, education and training, and links among their ministries and sectors and border localities have been strengthened.  The two sides have fostered affiliation in science, technology, natural resources and environment, agriculture, telecommunications, labour, culture, museum and tourism, health care, and human resources development.  Vietnam’s official development assistance projects for Laos have benefited the country’s agriculture, broadcasting and television sectors.  At the 39th meeting of the Vietnam – Laos Intergovernmental Committee on February 8 in Hanoi, the two sides agreed to work to promote political, diplomatic, security and defence cooperation, as well as links in trade, investment, personnel training, infrastructure development, and in management and sustainable use of water and natural resources.  On the occasion, the two sides signed an agreement on cooperation between the two Governments in 2017, and another between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports, among others, which aim to facilitate cooperation between the two nations’ sectors, localities and enterprises. VNA