Vietnam, Laos bolster security cooperation

Politburo member and Minister of Public Security To Lam was saying this during a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in Vientiane on February 10.

At the meeting, PM Thonglun Sisulith was appreciative of the visit to Laos by Minister To Lam and his delegation while extending his regards to Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc alongside other Party and State leaders of Vietnam.

Lam thanked the Lao PM for providing favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Lao ministries of public security to work closely together and jointly combat crimes and expressed his hoped that both sides will further promote cooperation in the fight against all types of crimes, especially organized crime, transnational crime, drug crime, high-tech crime.

He suggested that the two countries should continue offering mutual support in the time ahead, and hoped that Laos would help Vietnam fulfil its role as ASEAN Chair, ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Chair and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council this year.

The two defence ministers exchange the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation

Lam also briefed his host on the outcomes of his talks with the Lao Minister of Public Security. Thongloun Sisoulith, in turn, noted with his satisfaction the effective coordination between the two ministries over the past years, particularly in anti-crime and personnel training.

He wished that the relationship between the two public security forces would further grow for the sake of each nation’s socio-economic development and external affairs.

At the talks earlier, Minister Lam and his Lao counterpart Vilay Lakhamphong reviewed joint work last year and outlined orientations for bilateral coordination this year.

Minister To Lam and his Lao counterpart Vilay Lakhamphong hold talks

They pledged to effectively realize agreements by the two countries’ leaders this year and the cooperation agreement adopted by the two governments at the 42nd meeting of the Vietnam – Laos Inter-governmental Committee.

They will continue facilitating visits by leaders of the two ministries, promptly deal with contingencies and prevent hostile forces from sabotaging security and order in each nation.

Host and guest vowed to strengthen information sharing, especially those regarding regional and global issues impacting security and order, as well as combat terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal immigration, and counter the threats of non-traditional security affecting bilateral cooperation.

They will also effectively carry out international conventions and agreements to which the two countries are members, conduct negotiations for the signing of an extradition agreement, and offer mutual support at regional and global forums.

The two governments’ agreements in border areas will be implemented so as to ensure security and order and building a borderline of peace, cooperation and development.

After the talks, both sides signed a plan to implement 2020 cooperation agreement between the two ministries.

On the occasion, Minister To Lam presented Friendship Orders and Medals to 18 officials of the Lao Ministry of Public Security in recognition of their contributions to augmenting security cooperation between the two ministries.

The same day, Minister To Lam and his delegation paid a visit to the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos.