On October 10, 2024, during the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of Laos, and Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia participated in a special breakfast meeting with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. The three leaders agreed to work toward achieving strategic breakthroughs in economic, trade, and investment cooperation, aligning these efforts with the strong political ties and substantial potential shared by the three nations.

The discussions focused on enhancing connectivity across five key areas. First, the leaders emphasized the need for "soft connectivity"—involving institutional reforms, policy alignments, and the development of cooperative mechanisms that harness each country's unique strengths and competitive advantages. Second, "hard connectivity" will be prioritized through improvements in transport infrastructure, covering air, road, rail, inland waterway, and maritime networks to ensure better physical connectivity. Third, trade connectivity will aim to establish integrated production and supply chains that complement the advantages of each nation, thereby linking them more effectively to regional and global supply chains. Additionally, the leaders underscored the importance of enhancing digital and energy infrastructure, as well as strengthening business ties among enterprises in the three countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted that Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia share deep historical, geographical, and cultural connections, formed through a common struggle for national liberation and independence. These enduring bonds now serve as a solid foundation for economic and social development. He noted that this solidarity, built on mutual trust and cooperation, remains a key factor in driving future growth and partnership among the three countries.

The Prime Ministers agreed that many trilateral cooperation mechanisms between Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos have been established and are working effectively, contributing significantly to strengthening and fostering cooperation among the three countries. 

While the trilateral relationship has improved through various cooperation mechanisms in recent years, economic, trade, and investment ties have yet to fully match the political closeness shared by the three nations. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commended the theme of this year’s ASEAN Summit, "Promoting Connectivity and Resilience," expressing hope that regional businesses will contribute to elevating economic ties between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to a level that reflects their geographic and political proximity.

The three prime ministers also discussed specific measures to improve infrastructure connectivity, particularly in transportation and border areas. They agreed to collaborate closely on border security to ensure safety and stability, especially in regions where the three borders intersect. Expanding cooperation in border development through more effective use of land border checkpoints was identified as a priority, along with improving overall cross-border trade and economic interactions.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment from the three countries to create optimal conditions for enterprises to invest, operate, and expand business activities. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the spirit of collaboration among the three nations, saying, "We must listen and understand each other, share a common vision and action plan, work together to achieve success, and share joy, happiness, and pride together."