Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia seek stronger partnership

The talks were held following an initiative of PM Hun Sen aimed at maintaining and reinforcing the traditional friendship between the three neighbouring countries and between senior leaders in particular.

The PMs underlined that the special friendship and solidarity is a valuable treasure and motivated the three to work together during past national struggles for independence and in the ongoing cause of national construction and development.

They shared a belief that the younger generations will continue to nurture and promote this fine tradition.

PM Phuc congratulated Laos and Cambodia on their achievements in COVID-19 prevention and control, and thanked leaders of the two countries for their congratulations to Vietnam on the success of the 13th National Party Congress. He also congratulated Laos on the success of the 11th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and the recent general elections.

He underlined that thanks to its determination in implementing the “twin targets” of pandemic control and economic development, Vietnam maintained macro-economic stability and recorded growth of nearly 3 percent in 2020, while basically controlling the third outbreak of COVID-19. The country is striving to successfully implement the socio-economic plan for the next 10 years and a vision to 2045.

Meanwhile, the Lao and Cambodian PMs lauded Vietnam’s socio-economic and pandemic control achievements, while briefing each other on their current situation and future development orientations.

Regarding the relationship between the three countries, the PMs expressed their pleasure at cooperation in politics, security, defence, border management, economy, trade, investment, and education and training.

They underscored the significance of strengthening the education of the younger generations in the three countries on the traditional friendship.

They reached consensus on continuing to maintain and promote the efficiency of cooperation mechanisms, while bolstering partnerships and exchanges between 13 border localities and improving coordination in protecting shared border security and combating trans-border crime.

It is necessary to speed up the implementation of the plan to connect the three economies of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (CLV) until 2030, with a focus on optimising resources from developed countries to build an expressway network linking Hanoi and Vientiane, railway lines linking Vientiane and Vung Ang and also Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, along with border markets and goods distribution and transit centres, they agreed.

The three PMs also agreed to accelerate cooperation and mutual support in controlling COVID-19 as well as in continuing to create favourable conditions for customs clearances for people and goods passing over borders and for investment cooperation activities.

They agreed to work closely in increasing access to vaccines for developing countries, while effectively conducting initiatives approved within the ASEAN 2020 framework, including the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies and the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA).

The three leaders highly valued the fruitful cooperation between the three countries at sub-regional, regional, and international forums, and affirmed their commitments to working with other ASEAN countries in speeding up the building of the ASEAN Community, coordinating ASEAN sub-regional cooperation, and associating Mekong cooperation with ASEAN cooperation strategies and plans.

Laos and Cambodia congratulated Vietnam on successfully performing the roles of ASEAN Chair in 2020 and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure.

Vietnam affirmed that it will support Cambodia in organising the 7th Summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), which is slated for this month, while completing the role of host of the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit later this year and assisting Laos in fulfilling its tasks as the host of the Chair of the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) in the 2021-2022 tenure.

Regarding regional issues of shared concern, the leaders expressed their hope that the Myanmar situation will stabilise shortly with the peaceful settlement of disputes, for the benefit of Myanmar and for a peaceful and stable regional environment. They agreed to continue supporting the central role and efforts of ASEAN.

The three leaders stressed the need for maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, and agreed to coordinate in building a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that is practical, effective, and suitable with international law.

They also agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation in managing and using the Mekong River’s water resources, while coordinating in settling issues related to the development of hydropower projects in the mainstream and strengthening cooperation in developing green and renewable energy.

Concluding the talks, which took place in a sincere, open, and practical atmosphere, the three PMs agreed to assign their respective ministries, sectors, and localities to implement the agreements reached during the talks, thus accelerating their friendship and enhancing the efficiency of cooperation between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.