Vietnam, Laos Continuously Fostering Great Friendship, Special Solidarity and Comprehensive Cooperation

General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, accompanied by his spouse and a delegation from the Lao Party and State, conducted a state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary and President of Vietnam To Lam and his spouse.

General Secretary and President To Lam (L) and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith review the guards of honor during the welcome ceremony in Hanoi, September 10

During the cordial meeting held at the headquarters of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the two leaders exchanged updates on their respective Party and country. They discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern and agreed on orientations, policies, and measures to further elevate the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos to new heights.

General Secretary and President To Lam underlined the special significance of the visit, which aims to enhance the comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and two countries in line with the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in the context that the two countries are striving to successfully implement the congressional resolutions of each Party and prepare for Party congresses at all levels toward the new National Party Congress. General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his belief that the visit will be a great success that will raise the Vietnam-Laos relationship to a new high. He affirmed that Vietnam will work with Laos to preserve and nourish the bilateral ties and deepen the solidarity between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia toward a more intensive, practical and effective manner across all sectors.

General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith congratulated the Vietnamese people on the great, important, comprehensive and historic achievements over nearly 40 years of doi moi (renovation) like stable socio-political landscape, continuous economic growth, constantly improved people's lives and enhanced international position, stating that Vietnam's success is a source of encouragement, motivation and valuable lessons for Laos in the cause of national construction and development. He believed that, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam led by General Secretary and President To Lam, Vietnam will successfully achieve the goal of becoming a developing country with an upper middle income by 2030 and a high-income developed country by 2045.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomes General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith

General Secretary and President To Lam and General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith highly appreciated the valuable, wholehearted,and effective support and assistance that the two Parties, States and peoples have given each other in the past struggle for national liberation and unification as well as in the current cause of national renovation, construction and development.

The two leaders emphasized that the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, which were established by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong and nurtured by successive generations of leaders of both Parties and States, is an invaluable common asset of both nations, with strategic significance for the stability and development of each country. They emphasized that solidarity and mutual assistance between the two Parties and countries are not only an objective necessity and a historical imperative but also among the greatest sources of strength. This collaboration holds vital significance for advancing the revolutionary cause and for the national construction and defense efforts of both Parties and nations.

The two leaders affirmed their commitment to continuing the glorious historical tradition of both nations, together preserving, protecting, and continuously nurturing the special relationship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, making it increasingly intensive, practical, and effective in various fields, for the benefit of the people of each country and for peace, stability and development of the region and the world.

General Secretary and President To Lam and General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith expressed pleasure at the significant new developments in the relationship between the two Parties and countries, and the results of the Vietnam-Laos comprehensive cooperation over the past time, with the effective implementation of many projects. They also deeply discussed orientations to foster cooperation to make Vietnam-Laos relationship deep, practical, and effective in various areas.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man at the meeting with General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith

Accordingly, the two sides will continue to deepen political relations, enhance mutual understanding, and reinforce trust, which are the core guidelines for the overall relationship between the two countries. They will maintain high-level visits, meetings, and exchanges between the top leaders of both Parties and countries. Additionally, they will strengthen information sharing, coordination on strategic issues, and theoretical discussions, particularly on new issues. The two sides will also promote information and education about the special relationship between Vietnam-Laos as well as Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia ties among the peoples, especially the youth, of the two countries.

The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in defense and security, ensuring a solid foundation for each other to effectively cope with increasingly diverse and complicated security challenges. They will actively and effectively implement protocols and cooperation plans in defense and security, contributing to maintaining political stability in each country.

The two leaders agreed on a common perception of promoting joint efforts to create breakthroughs and improve the effectiveness of economic, cultural, and scientific and technological cooperation by exploiting and maximizing their potential and strengths; promote substantial connectivity between the two economies in terms of institutions, infrastructure, transportation, telecommunications and tourism, to foster long-term cooperation and development of both countries, and to foster connectivity among the three economies of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia as agreed by the three governments. The two nations will work closely to remove difficulties and obstacles to effectively implement key projects of mutual interest.

The two leaders agreed to maintain effective information exchange and assessments on international situations, protect each other’s legitimate interests in accordance with international law, including issues about the East Sea and the sustainable use of the Mekong River’s water resources. The two countries will consult, coordinate closely, and effectively support each other in international and regional issues and activities at multilateral forums.

By Bich Hanh, Vietnam Business Forum