General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith affirmed his readiness to coordinate with President Tô Lâm to strengthen the "unique" relationship between the two countries to become increasingly sustainable and effective.

President Tô Lâm and General Secretary, President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.

At the invitation of General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith, on the morning of July 11, President Tô Lâm, along with a high-ranking delegation from the Party and State of Vietnam, arrived in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, to begin a state visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Immediately following the official welcome ceremony, President Tô Lâm and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith co-chaired a meeting between the high-ranking delegations of the two countries.

General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith warmly welcomed and highly appreciated the significance of President Tô Lâm's first foreign business trip since taking office. He emphasized that President Tô Lâm's choice of Laos as the first country to visit in his new position reflects the importance that the Party, State of Vietnam, and personally Tô Lâm attach to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith once again congratulated Comrade Tô Lâm on being trusted to be elected as the President of Vietnam and expressed confidence that President Tô Lâm and the senior leaders of Vietnam would continue to lead Vietnam to further development.

General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith thanked President Tô Lâm for bringing to Laos the sincere friendship, solidarity, and close-knit ties of the Party, State, and people of brotherly Vietnam; at the same time, he affirmed his readiness to cooperate with President Tô Lâm to promote the "unique" relationship in the world to become increasingly sustainable and effective. He sincerely thanked Vietnam for its support for Laos during the struggle for national independence and in the current process of building and developing the country.

President Tô Lâm meets with General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.

General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith respectfully conveyed the fraternal greetings and best wishes to General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and senior leaders of Vietnam; congratulating the significant and comprehensive achievements of Vietnam in implementing the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress and Vietnam's socio-economic development plan in recent times; emphasizing that Vietnam's achievements are a great source of encouragement and motivation for the revolutionary cause of Laos.

General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith congratulated Vietnam on its important foreign achievements in recent times, affirming the strong reputation and international standing of Vietnam.

For his part, President Tô Lâm expressed his joy at making his first state visit to Laos in his new position and respectfully conveyed the heartfelt greetings and best wishes for health from General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, and National Assembly Chairwoman Trần Thanh Mẫn to General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, senior leaders, and all officials, party members, and people of brotherly Laos. He sincerely thanked the leaders and people of Laos for the warm, thoughtful, and fraternal reception extended to the delegation.

President Tô Lâm praised the great and comprehensive achievements that the Party, Government, and people of Laos have made in the renewal and nation-building process, expressing confidence that Laos would soon overcome difficulties and challenges, moving towards successfully achieving the goals set by the 11th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and successfully organizing the 12th Party Congress.

President Tô Lâm thanked the sincere and transparent feelings and valuable support of the State and people of brotherly Laos for Vietnam's nation-building and defense efforts over the years.

President Tô Lâm and members of the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation at the meeting with General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and the Lao high-ranking delegation.

After informing each other about the socio-economic situation in each country, the two leaders expressed their happiness about the positive development of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in recent times.

The two sides continued to regularly maintain delegation exchanges and high-level contacts, effectively promoting important bilateral cooperation mechanisms, thereby helping to continue maintaining and developing the close, trustworthy political relationship at the highest level.

Defense and security cooperation has become increasingly tight and effective, serving as a crucial pillar in the bilateral relationship.

Economic cooperation is being promoted, in which trade and investment continue to shine; Vietnam remains one of the leading trade and investment partners of Laos.

At the same time, the two sides have also made efforts to resolve difficulties and obstacles in some key projects.

Cooperation in cultural, social, educational, sports, people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation between localities, especially between border provinces, continues to be strengthened, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

In a friendly atmosphere filled with fraternal camaraderie, the two leaders exchanged confidently, sincerely, and openly about orientations and measures to promote cooperation in various fields; emphasizing that in the context of the current complex developments in the world and the region, the two countries need to enhance consultation, share experiences, coordinate, and support each other to overcome challenges and difficulties; together build an independent, self-reliant economy that integrates deeply into the world.

The two leaders reaffirmed the consistent policy of both countries to always prioritize and place the highest importance on strengthening and nurturing the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos; continue to focus on effectively implementing high-level agreements between the two countries, as well as between central and local ministries and sectors; enhance consultation on strategic issues; promote exchanges of visits and high-level contacts; review and enhance the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms; strengthen propaganda and education about the traditional history of the special solidarity relationship between Vietnam and Laos for the people of both countries, especially the younger generation; soon incorporate the contents of the History Book of the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos into teaching at educational institutions in each country; coordinate in building historical monuments and sites related to the Vietnam-Laos relationship, including the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Park in Vientiane.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen security-defense cooperation to effectively respond to new challenges; continue to coordinate and support each other in ensuring political stability, security, order, and social safety in each country; effectively implement agreements between the Ministries of Defense and Public Security of the two countries; closely coordinate in border management, especially in preventing and combating transnational crime, drug crime, illegal exploitation of natural resources, and illegal immigration; continue to effectively coordinate in searching, collecting, and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos and preserving the monuments of the Vietnam-Laos combat alliance.

General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and the Lao high-ranking delegation at the meeting with President Tô Lâm and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation.

The two sides agreed to make efforts to elevate economic cooperation to match the stature of the political relationship; enhance the exchange of experiences in macroeconomic management and anti-corruption; upgrade international border gates and transportation routes connecting the two countries; continually improve the effectiveness of cooperation in the fields of education and training, tourism, energy, clean agriculture, science, technology, healthcare, culture, people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation between localities.

The two leaders exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern; agreeing that in the current rapidly and complexly evolving world and regional situation, the two sides need to enhance information sharing, exchange, coordination, and cooperation closely in regional and international forums; ensure unity and promote the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ASEAN-led mechanisms.

President Tô Lâm affirmed that in the spirit of fraternal camaraderie, Vietnam will wholeheartedly support Laos in successfully taking on its international responsibilities in 2024, including the role of ASEAN Chair and AIPA Chair.

At the meeting, President Tô Lâm announced a gift from the Party, State, and people of Vietnam to the Party, State, and people of Laos, which includes 20 VinFast electric cars to support Laos in successfully organizing important activities during ASEAN Chairmanship 2024.

After the meeting, the leaders of the two countries witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents, including: (i) Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministry of Public Security of Laos on the establishment and implementation of a population management and citizen identity system in Laos; (ii) Extradition Agreement between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Supreme People's Procuracy of Laos; (iii) 2024 Cooperation Plan between the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam and the Ministry of Justice of Laos; (iv) Agreement to enhance air transport connectivity between Vietnam and Laos between the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos and Vietjet; and several agreements between businesses of both countries.

Among the agreements, notably, Vietjet signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos to enhance air transport connectivity in Laos. Accordingly, Vietjet will collaborate with the Lao Civil Aviation Authority to implement aviation projects, expand commercial operations, and commit to creating 2,500 new jobs in Laos. Vietjet Aviation Academy will also train personnel to international standards and establish a technical maintenance facility in Laos.

Vietjet has signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos to enhance air transport connectivity in Laos.

Vietjet will provide cost-effective flights and quality services for citizens and tourists, contributing to the socio-economic development, enhancing trade, and connecting tourism and culture between Laos and neighboring countries. The Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport highly appreciates Vietjet's contributions, and this cooperation aligns with the transportation collaboration strategy between Vietnam and Laos.

In 2023, Vietjet launched an aircraft maintenance center in collaboration with Lao Airlines, inaugurated a flight route connecting Vientiane with Ho Chi Minh City, and expanded its international flight network. Vietnam is currently one of the largest investors in Laos, with several important projects that promote cooperation and sustainable development between the two countries.

Vietnam is one of the largest investors and trading partners of Laos, with 255 active investment projects in Laos totaling $5.5 billion. Notably, cooperation in areas such as transportation, tourism, and science and technology is thriving, including new projects from Vietjet that promote trade and investment, playing a crucial role in sustainable development and mutual prosperity between Vietnam and Laos, as well as in the region.

The talks took place in a spirit of mutual understanding, trust, and deep fraternal friendship. At the conclusion of the discussions, President To Lam cordially reiterated the invitation for General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith to visit Vietnam at a convenient time, to which General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith happily accepted.

On this occasion, the two leaders also attended the ceremony to launch the project "Implementing the Population Management and Citizen Identity System in the Lao People's Democratic Republic," a project of particular significance in the process of building a digital government and digital nation in Laos, and a testament to the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos.