On the Occasion of the State Visit by Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and His Spouse, Accompanied by a High-Level Delegation from the Lao Party and Government to Vietnam at the Invitation of Vietnamese General Secretary and President Tô Lâm, the online newspaper of the Lao News Agency published an article on September 13 titled “Lao-Vietnam Cooperation in the New Phase is Growing” by Mr. Phan Minh Chiến, Chargé d'Affaires of the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, discussing the significance and importance of this visit for the special Vietnam-Laos relationship.

The article notes that the visit to Vietnam by Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and his spouse, along with the delegation, holds great importance, taking place after President Tô Lâm was entrusted and elected as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on August 3, 2024, and in the context where both Parties and countries are actively implementing the resolutions of each Party's congress and the socio-economic development plans of each country, having achieved many outstanding accomplishments.

In addition to enhancing and tightening the reliable relationship between the two Parties and two States, the visit also affirms the determination of the senior leadership of both countries to preserve, consolidate, and develop the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

The Lao News Agency published the article “Lao-Vietnam Cooperation in the New Phase is Growing” on September 13.

We can say that although the global and regional situation continues to change rapidly and unpredictably, affecting all countries, including Vietnam and Laos, the contents of the agreements between the two Parties and two countries have been actively implemented by various levels, sectors, localities, and enterprises on both sides, contributing to consolidating and strengthening the ever-developing special relationship between Vietnam and Laos in various fields, specifically as follows:

Political relations are increasingly deepening; both sides have coordinated effectively in implementing the Joint Statements and Agreements between the senior leaders of both Parties and countries; focusing on addressing difficulties and obstacles in the implementation process, enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms; successfully organizing visits, meetings, discussions, and seminars to exchange information and share experiences on Party building, socio-economic development, and international integration.

Cooperation in defense, security, and foreign affairs continues to be maintained and developed, being one of the important pillars in the relationship between the two countries. Both sides have closely coordinated to support each other in maintaining political stability, security, and social order in each country, effectively implementing the annual Protocol and Cooperation Plan in defense, security, and foreign affairs.

Both sides regularly exchange information and share experiences on non-traditional security issues, international and regional matters, closely coordinating and supporting each other at multilateral cooperation forums, including organizing meetings during Laos' role as ASEAN Chair in 2024.

Chairman of the National Assembly Trần Thanh Mẫn and General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee (LPRP) and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.

Cooperation in economics, trade, and investment continues to be promoted. Both sides actively implement the agreements between the two Governments, the agreements from the 46th session of the Intergovernmental Committee, and the results from the visits of senior leaders; gradually addressing difficulties and obstacles, creating favorable conditions regarding mechanisms and policies to encourage Vietnamese enterprises to invest in potential and advantageous areas aligned with Laos' priority directions, such as clean energy, renewable energy, agriculture, minerals, and tourism.

Cooperation in culture, education, health, and science-technology has developed and achieved results. Both sides actively implement the “Project to Improve the Quality and Effectiveness of Vietnam-Laos Cooperation in the Field of Education and Human Resource Development for the 2021-2030 Period;” continue to cooperate in cultural-social fields, sports, tourism, information, communication, science, and technology, contributing to enhancing understanding between the peoples of the two countries.

In the context of a rapidly changing, unprecedented, complex, and unpredictable situation, this creates many intertwined opportunities and challenges for both Vietnam and Laos. To preserve, nurture, and develop the special Vietnam-Laos relationship meaningfully, bringing practical benefits to the people of both countries, I believe we need to continue standing side by side, enhancing information exchange, sharing experiences, and cooperating in various fields.

In the immediate term, the two countries should focus on several priority areas as follows:

First, continue to deepen political relations, effectively implement high-level agreements, especially maintain and enhance the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms between the senior leaders of both countries; raise awareness of the importance of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship among the people of both countries. Strengthen propaganda and education about the traditional relationship between Vietnam and Laos; organize celebrations for important anniversaries and events of both Parties and countries in the remaining time of 2024 and especially in 2025.

Second, continue to coordinate the effective implementation of cooperation plans between the two Ministries of Defense and between the two Ministries of Public Security, ensuring political stability, security, and social order in each country, enhance exchanges of delegations, and promote the effectiveness of defense policy dialogue mechanisms and security cooperation.

Third, effectively implement agreements and cooperation agreements between the two Governments, and cooperation programs between ministries, sectors, and localities to elevate economic cooperation through expanding and upgrading East-West transport connectivity; establish a synchronized cooperation mechanism and special policies to liberate resources, facilitating enterprises and citizens of both countries in investment and business; resolve obstacles with breakthrough solutions; promote new cooperation models (cooperation with third parties) to leverage the potentials and strengths of both countries and capitalize on capital, experience, and technology from partners; utilize free trade agreements to enhance trade efficiency, expand markets, and attract investments.

Continue to enhance the quality and efficiency of investment cooperation, focusing on resolving outstanding issues in several cooperative projects between the two countries, and promote infrastructure and strategic connectivity.

Fourth, emphasize and enhance cooperation in education, training, and human resource development, especially in high-quality human resource training, prioritizing the training and development of young officials, key personnel, and leaders for ministries, sectors, and localities to meet the development needs of each country, while also contributing to tightening the bonds of friendship and solidarity between the peoples of the two countries.