Laos, Vietnam celebrates over 40 years of cooperation
Laos and Vietnam established diplomatic relations on 5 September 1962. In 2002, the two countries organised a series of events to celebrate 40 years of friendly relations. In the same year, the Lao Government presented the first Issara Order to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Vietnamese Government was also awarded the first Independent Order from the Laos’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Affairs ministries of both sides signed a cooperation agreement on 23 December 1999, where they pledged to foster closer cooperation for the period 2000 to 2005. In addition, the agreement stipulated that both sides will exchange information and visits between their high-ranking officials, support each other in ASEAN meetings as well as regional and international arena. The two sides also pledged to help each other in human resource development. With regard to cooperation and assistance, the Vietnamese Government has provided grant aid for several projects over the years. The most recent project saw Vietnam donating 560 million dong for developing human resources for the agriculture sector in Laos. Over the years, the Vietnamese government contributed 120 billion Dong for 26 ongoing projects, 50 percent of which is already completed. In addition, Vietnam also presented grant aid worth 42,500 million Dong for ad-hoc projects, one of which was a present from Mr. Nong Duc Manh, Secretary General of Vietnamese Communist Party. In the first six months of this year, a small and medium enterprise of Vietnam came invested USD 9.5 million in Laos. Today, the two-way trade has reached USD 60 million, an increase of 25 percent compared to the same period in 2002. One of the main projects under the Vietnam Government is the supply of rice seed CR203 to the Lao Brewery Company. Both sides have agreed to reduce tax tariff for imports by 50 percent. The Ministries of Commerce of Laos and Vietnam are currently looking into a creating a conducive environment for the transport of people, goods and vehicles. In particular, the Vietnamese side has allowed Laos to use their ports including Vang Ang seaport, built the road No 18 B in Attapeu linking with Vietnam, upgrading National road No 9 and other strategy roads. Vietnam and Laos have also worked closely on issues at the border checkpoints. They are now considering having a tourist pass that would ease travel for Lao, Vietnamese and Thai nationals who travel by road to these three countries. Laos and Vietnam has signed cooperation agreements, including that for socio-economic development, visa exemption for diplomats and state officials, human resource development, drug cooperation, investment protection, etc. In the beginning of every year, leaders of the two countries will hold a working session to review the cooperation in the year that past, as well as discuss future cooperation plans. The annual meeting between the Friendship Association will be respectively organised in their countries.
