Vietnam and Laos constantly cooperate closely and support each other to guarantee political stability, security and order, and social security in each nation; and well execute the Protocol and Cooperation Plan between the two countries' Ministries of Defense and Public Security

The two sides completed the project of thickening and embellishing the Vietnam - Laos national landmark system (1), successfully signed two important legal documents in 2016, including the "Protocol on Vietnam-Laos border and boundary markers" and "Agreement on Border Management Regulations" and "Vietnam - Laos land border gate"; sustaining the process of the yearly meeting between the two leaders of the Vietnam-Laos border delegation; essentially completed the Government High Level Agreement on settling the problem of free migrants and getting married without wedlock in the two countries' border areas. The two sides will continue to exchange information and work closely together to safeguard security, construct a stable Vietnam-Laos border line, and achieve comprehensive development, while reiterating the principle of not allowing any force to use one country's territory against another; strengthen the organization of joint patrol, search and rescue, inspection, and supervision at border gates; exchange of experiences in the construction of the two countries' military forces; transnational crime prevention and combat; prevent and deal with illegal exploitation of natural resources, smuggling, drug transportation, illegal human trafficking, and other negative issues that have arisen in the two countries' border area; closely coordinate in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic; continue to consolidate and promote the role of clusters and villages in Laos; coordinate and repair monuments in Laos symbolizing the friendship, solidarity, and fighting alliance between Vietnam and Laos; coordinate in the search for and recovery of Vietnamese soldiers and volunteers who died in Laos.

In terms of foreign affairs, the two sides established and effectively implemented an annual consultation mechanism at the level of the Head of the Central Committee for External Relations and the Minister of Foreign Affairs; strengthened the exchange of information on global and regional issues of mutual interest; closely and effectively coordinate activities at multilateral forums, such as the United Nations, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Asia-Europe Cooperation Forum (ASEM), Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV), Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Vietnam Cooperation (CLMV), Ayeyarwady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Organization (ACMECS) ​and cooperation mechanisms in the Mekong Sub-region, contributing to enhancing the prestige and position of each country.

Vietnam and Laos actively implement agreements reached between the two governments at Intergovernmental Committee meetings; actively implement the Agreement on the Strategy for Economic, Cultural, Educational, Scientific-Technical Cooperation between Vietnam and Laos; strengthen the work of guiding, inspecting, urging, and proactively solving difficulties and problems; continue to sign many cooperation documents; and create a synchronous legal corridor to promote cooperation.

Regarding investment, up to now, Vietnam has 413 investment projects in Laos, with a total investment capital of 4.22 billion USD, up about 30% compared to 2010 and accumulated disbursement of about $2.2 billion. A number of large projects have been completed and brought into full play to create jobs for the people of Laos, actively contributing to the development of each country (2). From 2016 to 2020, the two sides actively implement and put into use 28 works and projects using aid capital, including key projects such as Friendship Hospital in Houaphanh province and Xiengkhuang province of Laos. The two sides, in particular, completed the construction of the new Lao Parliament House. This is a gift from the Vietnamese Party, State, and people to the Lao Party, State, and people, and it represents the special connection between Vietnam and Laos.

In terms of trade, the two sides continue to promote and negotiate, and have signed a number of important documents that contribute to the improvement of the legal framework for trade (New Bilateral Trade Agreement, border trade agreement, Protocol amending the Agreement on goods transit between Vietnam and Laos, Vietnam-Laos border trade development project, etc.); proactively, actively execute signed papers and the "one-stop" system at the international border gate pair of Lao Bao - Densavanh, and boost trade promotion measures The basic trade turnover has risen throughout the 2016-2020 period, reaching over 1 billion USD thus far, and has shown favorable trends with long-term quality improvements. Two-way trade turnover was 671.7 million USD in the first six months of 2021. Both sides are continuing to use preferential import and export tax arrangements for items produced in their respective nations, and the list is growing.

In terms of transportation, the two sides are working to execute the Memorandum of Understanding between the two governments on a transportation cooperation strategy for the period 2016-2025, with a view to 2030. As a result, the two sides collaborate to conduct research and promote the search for capital sources to fund key projects, such as implementing the Agreement on cooperation and investment in the development of port clusters 1, 2, and 3 at Vung Ang port, and completing the Nongkhang airport construction project in Houaphan province on occasion. The two sides signed an agreement to build and operate the Vung Ang - Vientiane railway line; coordinate to propose the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway project to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); and promote cooperation in the field of training and development of high-quality human resources in transportation.

In the area of electric energy, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the development of hydropower projects in Laos and electricity trading between the two countries until 2030, as well as an Agreement on cooperation in the development of electric and mine energy works. They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the purchase and sale of electricity from wind power projects…

In the field of health, medical examination and treatment for Lao cadres and people in Vietnam, particularly in border provinces and remote medical examination and treatment cooperation, continues to be of interest and promoted; Vietnam always creates favorable conditions to assist Laos in training health workers; and Vietnam and Laos closely cooperate in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.