17-12-2023 (HANOI) During a working breakfast on the sidelines of the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of Asean-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in Tokyo, the Prime Ministers of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia—Pham Minh Chinh, Sonexay Siphandone, and Hun Manet, respectively—agreed on Sunday to intensify solidarity among their countries in matters of national security, building, and development.
Applauding the flexible form of consultation among the three leaders during multilateral activities, they expressed satisfaction with the approach, which allows them to review challenges and find solutions in various cooperative fields. The Lao and Cambodian leaders endorsed Prime Minister Chinh’s proposal for a mechanism facilitating regular meetings of the three Prime Ministers to implement results achieved at the high-level meeting of the Party chiefs of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
The leaders committed to maintaining regular high-level meetings, contacts, and exchanges across all channels. They pledged to effectively implement cooperation agreements and mechanisms, enhance information sharing among ministries and sectors, strengthen economic connectivity, and support each other in building independent and self-reliant economies with robust international integration.
Consensus was reached on reinforcing security and defence cooperation, coordinating closely in protecting border security, and combating cross-border crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking. The leaders also committed to jointly constructing peaceful, stable, and developing borderlines.
In addition, they agreed to implement policies and measures to further facilitate and encourage trade and investment, with a specific focus on border trade. The leaders endorsed opening more flights connecting the three countries and actively implementing the action plan to connect their economies until 2030.
The Cambodian Prime Minister proposed organizing a tourism ministers’ meeting in Cambodia to enhance tourism cooperation, particularly promoting the “One Journey, Three Destinations” model, which was welcomed by all three leaders.
Emphasizing the importance of fostering understanding and solidarity among the young generation, the leaders pledged to promote exchanges and training of youths and young leaders to ensure the future vitality of trilateral relations. Regional issues of common concern were also discussed, and an agreement was reached to coordinate efforts to maintain Asean’s solidarity, stance, and centrality in addressing regional challenges.
The Lao leader highlighted the focus of Asean 2024 on strengthening connectivity and resilience within ASEAN, expressing gratitude to Cambodia and Vietnam for their active cooperation. Prime Minister Chinh affirmed Vietnam’s full support and assistance for Laos in successfully undertaking the Asean Chairmanship in the coming year.
