President Tran Dai Quang ( right ) greets Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at the Presidential Office in Hanoi.

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the agreement in Hanoi on Sunday during a visit by the head of the Lao government to Vietnam.

Mr Thongloun, his wife and a Lao delegation are visiting Vietnam from May 15 to 17.

According to the Lao News Agency, the two countries intend to tighten cooperation between their border provinces with the aim of preventing subversive and undesirable conduct, and enhance cooperation in education, cultural-social matters, and foreign affairs.

At the 38th meeting of the JC convened in Vientiane last December, the two sides agreed upon the direction of bilateral cooperation for 2016-2020, and the cooperation plan for next year, as well as technical approval of the Anouvong Secondary Friendship School in Xaysomboun province, with the Lao government to implement the project.

An MoU between the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and Vietnam's Social Insurance Department, a loan agreement and an insurance agreement for the Nam Mo 2 hydropower development plan, and amendments to the lead and zinc survey agreement relating to Nonghed district, Xieng Khuang province, and Huaphan province, were also completed.

At their meeting on Sunday, the two prime ministers discussed next year's celebration of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the two nations.

Cooperation within the Mekong framework, regional and international cooperation, and regional and international issues of mutual interest were also on the agenda.

Mr Thongloun's visit to Vietnam was his first to a foreign country since he was elected Prime Minister.

During the visit, Mr Thongloun paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam Mr Nguyen Phu Trong, who praised and said he highly valued Mr Thongloun's election as the head of the Lao government. This reflected the trust placed in him by the Lao leaders and multiethnic people.

Mr Thongloun and his delegation also paid a courtesy visit to Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, met the President of the National Assembly of Vietnam Ms Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, and received a courtesy visit from the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association.

He also met former President Truong Tan Sang, former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Party Committee Mr Le Thanh Hai.

Yesterday morning, Prime Minister Thongloun and his delegation laid a wreath at the Monument to Heroic Soldiers to commemorate and express their gratitude for their great sacrifice.

Source: vientianetimes.org.la