Following the talks, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith were present to witness the signing and awarding of 14 cooperation documents between the two countries' ministries, branches, and businesses. On the morning of August 9, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith convened a courtesy meeting at the Presidential Palace following the official welcoming ceremony and a courtesy meeting with the General Secretary and President of Laos. Two high-level representatives from the two countries are meeting.

In a friendly atmosphere, the two sides exchanged information on their respective Parties' and countries' situations, discussed policies and measures to further the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos' development in depth, effectiveness, and substance, and exchanged ideas on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary and State President, heartily welcomed and praised the visit, which came just after each Party's Congress and the election of National Assembly deputies.

The choice of Laos as President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's first country to visit in his new post demonstrated the importance of the Vietnamese Party and State, as well as comrade Nguyen personally. Xuan Phuc for safeguarding, protecting, and consistently cultivating Vietnam-Laos' great friendship, exceptional solidarity, and comprehensive collaboration. The visit helps to strengthen the relationship between the two Parties and emerging countries by delving further into efficiency and practicality.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his pleasure to return to Laos in a new position; expressed his gratitude to General Secretary, President Thongloun Sisoulith, and other leaders of the Lao Party, State, and people for their respectful, thoughtful, warm, and friendly reception; and congratulated the Lao Party, State, and people on their many great, comprehensive, and significant achievements over the years.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his confidence that, under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, led by General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith, and the Lao people, Mr. I will overcome all obstacles, successfully implement the Resolution of the 11th Party Congress and the Ninth Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan for the period 2021-2025, and continue to improve Laos' position and role in the international community.

The two leaders stated that the two Parties, States, and Peoples of the two countries have always provided vital support, help, and goodwill in the cause of national liberation and reunification. He also stated that he will continue to give top priority to constantly consolidating and cultivating the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, which he considers to be the law of development, vital importance, and one of the decisive factors in ensuring the victory of each country's revolutionary cause.

The two presidents also expressed their joy at the positive evolution of the two nations' cooperation relationship in recent years. Despite being affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, the two sides have worked hard to maintain delegation exchanges and high-level contacts; effectively promote bilateral cooperation mechanisms; and cooperation in the fields of politics, diplomacy, defense, security, education-training, trade, investment, and so on has continued to progress.

In the first half of this year, two-way trade turnover reached USD 670 million, up 37% from the same period in 2020. Vietnam is the third-largest direct investor in Laos, with a total registered capital of around 5.2 billion USD. The Vietnamese side welcomed 1,200 Lao students to study in the academic year 2020-2021, raising the total number of international students studying in Vietnam to approximately 16,100.

The two leaders spent a lot of time discussing ways to help each other deal with the challenges posed by the Covid-19 epidemic for each country and for the Vietnam-Laos cooperation relationship; at the same time, they agreed to promote cooperation in all fields, including politics, diplomacy, defense, and security, as well as education, economy, trade, investment, energy, culture, and science and technology.

The two leaders agreed that it is critical to continue implementing the High-Level Agreements and the outcomes of the 43rd Session of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee; to effectively implement the Agreement on Bilateral Cooperation between Vietnam and Laos for the period 2021-2025, the Strategic Cooperation Agreement between Vietnam and Laos for the period 2021-2030, and the outcomes of the main friendship visit to Thongloun.

The two sides emphasized the importance of continuing to deepen political ties; close cooperation on strategic issues relating to each country's security and development; high-level visits between leaders of the two parties and countries in various forms; actively exchange information and share experiences on Party building, political system, socio-economic development, macroeconomic stability, and international integration; and promote propaganda and education.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the two countries, the two sides agreed to declare 2022 the "Year of Friendship and Solidarity between Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam 2022." Vietnam and Laos are two countries in Southeast Asia.

The two leaders agreed to continue to strengthen defense and security cooperation in order to effectively address traditional and non-traditional security challenges; promote cooperation in developing high-quality human resources and training key management leaders at all levels; and effectively implement the project on educational cooperation between Vietnam and Laos for the period 2021-2030, as well as the project on bringing the content of historical project products to the public.

Promote economic, trade, investment, and energy cooperation; make strong and breakthrough efforts to free up resources for bilateral economic cooperation; regularly pay attention to and definitively resolve difficulties and problems faced by enterprises in the two countries, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP); make good use of free trade agreements that the two countries have joined, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP); and make good use of major agreements that Vietnam has initially joined, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The two leaders agreed to timely information sharing and close coordination at international and regional forums; to continue to promote ASEAN's central role and the mechanisms led by ASEAN; to strengthen coordination with Cambodia in implementing the Agreement between the three Prime Ministers on the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle area and the Master Plan on connecting the three economies of Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam by 2030; and to closely coordinate. The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation with each other, as well as with relevant countries and international organizations, for the long-term and effective management and use of the Mekong River's water resources.

The two sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea; resolving disputes peacefully on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982); and working with relevant parties to promote the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and achieving an effective solution as soon as possible.

Following the talks, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith witnessed the signing and awarding of 14 cooperation documents between the two countries' defense ministries, branches, and enterprises. Security, drug prevention, search and rescue, trading in electricity, exploration, exploitation, and mineral processing…

On this occasion, the Party, State, and People of Vietnam presented the Party, State, and People of Laos with a $5 million vocational school project in Khammuane province. /.

14 documents of cooperation between the two countries' ministries, branches, and enterprises:

1. The cooperation agreement between the two President's Offices for the period 2021-2025, signed by Chairman of the President's Office Le Khanh Hai and Chairman of the President's Office of Laos Khammani Phonsena (Khemmani. Pholsena);

2. The 2022 cooperation program signed by Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long and Minister of Justice of Laos Phayvi Sibualipha (Phayvy Sibualipha);

3. The document containing the 2020 supplementary cooperation plan signed by Minister of Public Security To Lam and Minister of Public Security of Laos Vilay Lakhamphoong (Vilay Lakhamphong);

4. Memorandum of Understanding on drug prevention cooperation signed by Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc and Lao Deputy Minister of Public Security Van-thoong Kongmany (Vanthong Kongmany);

5. Minutes of cooperation between the two Defense Ministries on the construction of the Lao Military Ethnic Culture School, signed by Defense Minister Phan Van Giang and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Chansamon Chan.

6. Defense Minister Phan Van Giang and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Chansamone Chanyalath sign a letter of intent between the two Defense Ministries on cooperation in search and rescue.

7. Agreement on cooperation between Bac Giang and Xaxombun provinces for the period 2021-2025, signed by Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Anh Duong and Governor of Khamliang Uthakayso.

* Following the signing ceremony, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and General Secretary and President of Laos witnessed business representatives awarding cooperation agreements:

1. Agreement between CAVICO Co., Ltd. and the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment to mine and process gold, copper, nickel, silver, and iron ores in Bolikha district, Bolykhay province.

2. Memorandum of Understanding between Vietnam Minerals Joint Stock Company and the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment on tin prospecting in Nam Sang village, Bolykhamxay province.

3. Memorandum of Understanding between Vietnam Electricity and Laos National Electricity Company on cooperation in research, as well as the purchase and sale of electricity from the Nam U Hydropower Plant cluster and the Nam Ngum 4 Hydropower Plant.

4. Memorandum of Understanding between the Electricity of Vietnam and EDL Generation Company on cooperation in research and purchase of electricity from the Nam Chien hydropower project cluster;

5. Memorandum of Understanding between Vietnam Electricity and Phong - about-thavi (Phongsupthavy) on cooperation in research and procurement of electricity from the Se Cong 5 Hydropower Plant, Nam Ngone 1 Hydropower Plant, and Nam Ngone 2 Hydropower Plant;

6. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in mineral exploration, exploitation, and processing in Laos between the Vietnam Coal and Minerals Group and the Phongsupthavi Group (Phongsupthavy);

7. Memorandum of Understanding on the Feasibility Study of the Nam Ma Hydropower Project between the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment and a joint venture of investors including Trung Son Company, Mekong Company, and Phong-soon-thavi Group ( Phongsupthavy).