VNHNO - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on August 23 received Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Khamphau Ernthavan who has been in Vietnam to co-chair the third Vietnam-Laos political consultation at the deputy foreign minister-level.
At the meeting, Deputy PM Minh said he was delighted to see remarkable progress in the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, as well as the close and effective ties between the two foreign ministries.
He stressed the significance of the Vietnam-Laos political consultation mechanism at the deputy foreign minister-level, saying the two sides should discuss issues openly with mutual trust in an effort to deepen the two countries’ cooperation.
Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh (R) receives Lao Deputy FM Khamphau Ernthavan in Hanoi on August 23. Photo: VGP
The Deputy PM also took the occasion to express his sympathy for the losses the Lao people have suffered due to the tragic dam break in Attapeu province in late July. He believed the Government of Laos and those affected would soon be able to overcome the hardship and return to normal life.
Ernthavan, for her part, expressed that the annual consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministers and the political consultation at the deputy foreign minister-level, initiated by Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh, have significantly contributed to strengthening the special ties between Vietnam and Laos at large and the two ministries in particular.
She congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 30th Diplomatic Conference and thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its cooperation with and assistance to the Lao counterpart in recent years, especially in professional training for young diplomats.
On the behalf of the Party, State, and people of Laos, she showed gratitude towards the donations from Vietnam to aid relief efforts following the Lao dam collapse, and also extended her condolences over the losses after floods hit northern and central Vietnam recently.
The third political consultation at the deputy foreign minister level will take place in Hanoi on August 24 under the co-chair of Vietnamese Deputy FM Le Hoai Trung and his Lao counterpart Khamphau Ernthavan.
Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh (R) hosts a reception for Park Soo-kwan, Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in the RoK’s Busan-Gyeongnam region. Photo: VGP
* The same day, Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception for Park Soo-kwan, Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Busan-Gyeongnam region.
At the meeting, FM Minh expressed his delight at the development of the Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperative partnership.
He applauded Park’s contributions to promoting bilateral ties, especially in assisting Vietnamese-Korean families, and Vietnamese labourers and students in the Busan-Gyeongnam region.
The Deputy PM urged Park to carry forward his role as the Honorary Consul General to support and protect legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens who are living, studying, and working in the region.
He also called on the Honorary Consul General to encourage large and potential businesses in the region to increase their investment in Vietnam, to promote the presence of Vietnamese products on the RoK market, and to enhance cooperation in tourism, and education and training between the two countries.
In his reply, Park pledged that he will continue to make all-out efforts in order to contribute to forging the strategic cooperative partnership in the time ahead./.
