 Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (center) has a working breakfast with Cambodian PM Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet (left) and Lao PM Sonexay Siphandone in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. |
The leaders said various bilateral and trilateral cooperation mechanisms have proven effective, making tangible contributions. Highlights included the meeting between the three Ministers of Defense, the three Ministers of Public Security or Interior Affairs and the three Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
They agreed that trust and strategic sharing are the foundation for long-term sustainable cooperation in all fields, with special attention paid to connecting the two and three countries in economics, trade, finance, education, culture and people-to-people exchange.
The three PMs agreed to step up cooperation in developing border areas, focusing on linking the infrastructure of transport, energy, trade, digital transformation, and human resources. They stressed the need to optimize the efficiency of land border gates to facilitate cross-border trade and support socio-economic growth in border provinces.
The leaders also concurred to collaborate to explore the establishment of cross-border economic zones and to review and revise existing agreements for a more enabling legal framework in order to raise Vietnam’s bilateral trade turnover with Laos to 5 billion USD, and with Cambodia to 20 billion USD.
They pledged to promote the “three countries, one destination” tourism initiative, and to work with Thailand in implementing regional transport connectivity projects involving all four countries.
The three PMs said that the security of one country is in the interest of the others. They reiterated their commitment to safeguarding political stability, public security, and social safety within each nation, as well as to maintaining order along shared borders. Efforts will also be strengthened to combat cross-border crime and illegal entry, while preserving borders of peace, friendship, stability, and development, according to the PMs of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.