Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will pay a working visit to Laos from March 12-15 to foster regional development links.
He will attend the 6th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit (CLMV
6), the 5th Ayeyawadi-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy
Summit (ACMECS 5) and the talks between ACMEC leaders and business
representatives.
PM Dung will also chair the 7th
Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit (CLV 7) and visit some
northern provinces of Laos.
Held every two
years, the CLV 7 will start on March 12 with the participation of the
Prime Ministers of the three countries as well as leaders of relevant
ministries, sectors and localities.
The CLV 7 is
held at a time when bilateral ties between Vietnam and Laos , and
Vietnam and Cambodia have strengthened and developed in the spirit
of solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation.
Cooperation among the 13 provinces in the development triangle has
yielded encouraging results, especially in the implementation of the
socio-economic development master plan until 2020, which was adopted in
2010. The localities maintained high economic growth, with their
economic structures shifting towards more promising fields.
Infrastructure has improved and positive economic, trade and education
achievements have been made.
The event will
review the implementation of agreements reached at CLV 6, and define
the directions to promote future cooperation among the three countries.
The three PMs will also adopt a joint statement.
The CLMV 6, which will also get underway on March 12, will examine the
implementation of the 2011–2012 action plan, and discuss specific areas
of cooperation and orientations to increase links among countries.
The ACMECS 5, to be held on March 13, will look at the implementation
of the Phnom Penh Declaration and the 2010–2012 ACMECS action plan,
cooperation in eight priority fields, and orientations for future
cooperation including the 2013–2015 action plan.
Cooperation in the Mekong region is growing. Despite challenges, the
cooperation mechanisms of CLMV and ACMECS have yielded some success,
especially in the hosting of regional trade fairs and exhibitions.
Cooperation has boosted tourism and facilitated trade among countries
through building a one-stop service system and one-door customs at
international border gates.
Vietnam has taken
part in cooperation activities under these mechanisms, played a leading
role in devising annual action plans, and put forward initiatives for
more efficient cooperation.
Meanwhile, Dung’s visit
to Laos’ northern provinces aims to tighten the Vietnam–Laos
friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation by
discussing measures to enhance links and investment and sharing
experiences in local socio-economic development.
The
two countries are actively implementing the economic, cultural and
science-technology cooperation strategy for the 2011–2020 period, the
2011-2015 agreement on economic, cultural and science-technology
cooperation between the two Governments, and the Vietnam–Laos
cooperation strategy in the Lao provinces of Houaphan and Xieng Khouang.
Vietnam’s investment in Laos has surged
with 440 projects worth 5.38 billion USD, making it one of the largest
investors in the country. Two-way trade hit nearly 900 million USD last
year and is expected to reach 2 billion USD by 2015.-VNA