Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (R) receives Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Laos on Jan 11, 2023. (photo: VNA)

This is Prime Minister Chinh’s first official visit to Laos to co-chair the 45^th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee and attend the closing ceremony of the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Friendship Year 2022. The 3 events are of great importance to bilateral ties, affirming the consistent policy of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people toward Laos.

Milestones in 2022

Last year Vietnam and Laos maintained regular high-level contacts and exchanges in all channels. The two countries successfully organized the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Year of Friendship and Solidarity 2022, with the highlight being a solemn celebration of the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relations (September 5) and the 45^th  anniversary of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty (July 18).

Bilateral cooperation mechanisms have been effectively promoted, including the successful organization of the 44^th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee in January, 2022. Defense and security cooperation continues to be a pillar in bilateral relations, contributing to the political stability, security, and social order of each country and the border area between the two countries.

Economic cooperation, trade, and investment have been promoted. Two-way trade turnover in 2022 was 1.63 billion USD, up 20% from 2021. Vietnam currently has 238 valid investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of 5.34 billion USD and continues to be the 3^rd largest investor in Laos.

Cooperation in education, culture, and tourism has been continuously strengthened. The two countries have controlled the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened their border. Cooperation between localities, particularly in border areas, has been tightened in infrastructure, healthcare, human resource training, social order, and safety.

The two countries have closely coordinated on regional and global issues of common concern and supported each other at multilateral forums like the UN, ASEAN, and sub-region mechanisms.

The 44th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee in January, 2022. (photo: VNA)

Momentum for reform and integration

During his two-day visit to Laos, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will hold talks with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and meet with high-ranking leaders of Laos. These are good opportunities to exchange opinions, consolidate cooperation, and find ways to resolve current problems.

Prime Minister Chinh will meet with the Vietnamese community in Laos to assure them of the Party and State's care, understanding, and sharing. The visit is expected to achieve results in security, defense, politics, diplomacy, and economy, and affirm Vietnam's consistent guidelines and policies to treasure the great friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos and Vietnam's support for Laos’s renewal and integration.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumsay Kommasith said that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit is of great significance to the Laos-Vietnam cooperation relationship, once again affirming the consistent foreign policy of the Vietnamese State and people towards Laos. He expressed his belief that the visit will contribute to strengthening the friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples.

For Vietnam, the visit implements external policies set at the 13^th National Party Congress, promotes external affairs for the Party, the State, and people's diplomacy, and implements the Politburo's policy on overseas Vietnamese affairs in the new situation.