Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh has paid a two-day visit to Cambodia in response to the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen.
The prime minister accompanied by high ranking officials arrived in Phnom Penh on Nov 29. Following a welcome ceremony hosted by his Cambodian counterpart at Peace Palace, the two premiers with their delegations held bilateral talks where Prime Minister Phankham told his counterpart that his visit reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the government and people of Laos to furthering the traditional friendship and comprehensive and long-lasting strategic partnership between Laos and Cambodia.
He also expressed gratitude to the government and people for providing medical supplies, vaccines to support fight against Covid-19 in the Lao PDR.
Both sides reviewed cooperation over the past years and set forth directions for years to come.
The two leaders noted that the relations and longstanding cooperation between the two countries have been growing constantly especially after the two countries upgraded their cooperation to comprehensive and long-lasting strategic partnership in 2019.
Both sides agreed that the relations and cooperation between the two countries have been strengthened and deepened in all areas despite of changing and complicated situations in the region and the world at large and covid-19 pandemic as this has been reflected in the fact that leaders of the two countries have hold meetings on a regular basis.
They noted that the leaders of the two countries have attached importance to strengthening cooperation in areas of politics, defense and public security, and drug fight.
Cooperation in investment, economic, trade, socio-cultural and education areas has enjoyed a constant growth.
The two leaders noted that the growth in trade and investment between the two countries has shown a growing trend and reaffirmed their commitment to work together to continue to create more favourable conditions for the promotion of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, especially the cooperation on energy as the Lao PDR holds energy production and export potential while energy demand is high in Cambodia.
They also informed each other about the socio-economic development and anti-covid-19 efforts in their respective countries and proposed a bilateral meeting on economic recovery with a focus placed on tourism.
The two leaders agreed to urge relevant authorities of the two countries to hold bilateral meetings according to existing mechanisms especially the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, and the Joint Boundary Commission to implement the agreements signed by leaders of the two countries.
On the following day, Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh also paid a courtesy call to King Norodom Sihamoni, met President of the National Assembly of Cambodia Heng Samrin and President of the Senate Say Chhum and placed a wreath at the Independent Monument and the Norodom Sihanouk Memorial.
During the official visit to Cambodia, the government and people of Cambodia donated US$3 million, along with 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine and two vaccine transporters, excluding US$10 million contributed by Cambodian companies.
Source: Lao News Agency