VN, Laos vow to place top priority on nurturing ties

The two sides agreed to continue fruitful implementation of high-level agreements, especially the Joint Statements issued during Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's official visit to Laos in November 2016 and Lao Party chief and President Bounnhang Volachith's official visit to Viet Nam in April 2016 and the outcomes of the 39^th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on bilateral cooperation.

Both sidespromisedto continue enhancing the exchange of high-level delegations and contacts, political trust, and effectiveness of cooperation in all fields, including politics, diplomacy, security and defense, economy, trade and investment.

The two PMs agreed to raise the two-way trade value by 10% in 2017 and improve economic connectivity, especially in terms of telecommunication, energy and transport in line with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity through new investment projects

They vowed to effectively realize the Protocol on defense-security cooperation for the period 2016-2020, the Protocol on the borderline and national markers, and the Regulations on management of borderline and border gates.

Both sides agreed to accelerate cultural and people-to-people exchanges and coordinate in organizing activities to mark the 55^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the 40^th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation.

The countries committed to continuing close coordination at international and regional forums like the United Nations, ASEAN and other sub-regional mechanisms; supporting their initiatives and activities within ASEAN and ASEAN-led frameworks; working together to build a strong ASEAN Community and enhance the bloc's solidarity and central role.

Both sides also pledged to continue strengthening cooperation and coordination between themselves and with relevant countries and organizations for effective and sustainable management and use of the Mekong water resources in the way of harmonizing interests of people living along the river while developing a coordination mechanism for evaluating and supervising impacts of using the water resources.