General Secretary To Lam and his spouse with General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and his spouse. (Photo: VOV)

This series of high-level events comes as the two countries prepare for Party Congresses, and as Laos celebrates the 50th anniversary of its National Day, a milestone highlighting Laos’s achievements over the past half century, made possible in part by Vietnam’s support.

Practical, effective cooperation

In recent years, Vietnam and Laos have maintained close, high-level engagement through regular meetings and exchanges between their State and Party leaders, which reaffirm their special relationship and promote strategic areas of cooperation, including political stability, security, defense, infrastructure connectivity, investment, and development assistance.

Economic cooperation has seen significant progress. Bilateral trade in the January-October period totaled 2.5 billion USD, a 50.4% increase from last year, making Vietnam the third-largest trading partner of Laos. Hundreds of Vietnamese projects, ranging from energy and high-tech agriculture to finance and telecommunications, have contributed significantly to Laos’s economic growth.
Laos’s Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh said: “These projects play an important role in Laos’s socio-economic development, especially in transportation infrastructure. Vietnam’s policy allowing Laos to use and operate certain areas of Vung Ang port has helped Laos, a landlocked country, connect regionally and has facilitated the transport and circulation of our goods.”

Another highlight has been cooperation in education and training. Over the years, thousands of Lao officials and students have studied in Vietnam, building a vital human resource foundation for Laos’s development.

New momentum for Vietnam-Laos relations

Vietnam-Laos relations are being renewed, still honoring historical values but shifting the focus toward effectiveness, sustainability, and adaptability to new global and regional challenges.

In an increasingly complex world, maintaining and strengthening Vietnam-Laos ties is a strategic necessity for ensuring peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region. This special relationship is treasured by both nations as a source of strength for their future progress.

General Secretary Lam’s State visit to Laos delivers the message that Vietnam continues to consider Laos a top priority of its foreign policy, and creates fresh momentum for strategic cooperation.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong said: “During this visit, leaders of the two Parties and States are expected to reach a common understanding on raising bilateral relations to a new height and enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation. This is essential in the context of rapid and complex regional and global developments.”

Expressing confidence in the future of bilateral ties, Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh said: “The visit reaffirms that Vietnam gives Laos top priority in its foreign policy. Leaders of both sides will outline cooperation plans for the coming period to ensure that bilateral relations are substantive, in-depth, and effective. The 48th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee, co-chaired by the two Prime Ministers, reflects the special attention senior leaders give to strengthening bilateral cooperation.”

Party leader To Lam’s State visit to Laos is a historic diplomatic event that reinforces political trust, deepens comprehensive cooperation, and opens new directions for bilateral ties in the new era. Meanwhile, the role of the Vietnamese Prime Minister as Co-Chair of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee is a key to concretizing and coordinating all aspects of cooperation.

The close synergy between the General Secretary’s visit and the Prime Minister’s coordinating role forms a unified framework that propels Vietnam-Laos relations into a new stage of sustainable development.