On the afternoon of October 8, in Vientiane, Laos, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính had a meeting with General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith on the occasion of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits.

 Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and General Secretary, President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính warmly congratulated Laos for successfully organizing important ASEAN meetings as the Chair of ASEAN 2024 and conveyed the greetings of General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and National Assembly Chair Trần Thanh Mẫn to Laos. He expressed confidence that with careful and professional preparations, along with the experience gained from chairing ASEAN in 2004 and 2016, Laos would successfully host the ASEAN Summit and AIPA 45. This would contribute to the stable, sustainable development and growth of the region while enhancing Laos's role and position internationally.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính affirmed that the Party, State, and people of Vietnam always value and prioritize the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. He regarded this relationship as a priceless asset, an objective requirement, a top priority, a first choice, and a vital factor for the revolutionary cause of both countries, which should be preserved for future generations.

The Prime Minister stated that he would direct Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and localities to closely coordinate with their Laotian counterparts to effectively implement the high-level agreements between the two countries, including the Joint Declaration of Vietnam-Laos during the recent state visit of General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith to Vietnam from September 10-13, 2024.

General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính for leading the high-level Vietnamese delegation to participate in the ASEAN Summit in Laos. He thanked General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and the senior leadership of Vietnam for their warm and brotherly welcome to the Laotian delegation during their recent state visit.

General Secretary, President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.

Thongloun Sisoulith appreciated Vietnam's valuable support, both material and spiritual, in helping Laos quickly overcome the consequences of floods, in the spirit of "the torn leaf covers the torn leaf of many."

He acknowledged Vietnam's active support for Laos during its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024, asserting that Vietnam's contributions played an important role in Laos's success in this position.

Both leaders agreed that in the coming time, the two sides need to focus on effectively implementing the agreements and cooperation agreements between the two countries, particularly the outcomes of the recent meeting between the Politburos of Vietnam and Laos in Hanoi.

They agreed to further strengthen the connectivity of the economies of Vietnam and Laos, as well as between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. They will continue to exchange experiences and information regularly, closely coordinate, and support each other in international and regional forums, especially within ASEAN, the United Nations, and sub-regional mechanisms.

In the context of a complex global and regional situation, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing the Vietnam-Laos relationship to be "forever green and eternally sustainable," aiming to develop economic cooperation in a substantive and effective manner that matches the political relationship and better meets the practical interests of each country while aligning with development needs in the new phase.