Minister of Finance Nguyễn Văn Thắng, Chairman of the Vietnam–Laos Cooperation Committee, expressed his confidence that the outcomes of the 48th Meeting of the Vietnam–Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation will further promote the bilateral relationship toward greater substance and effectiveness.

The press conference was held immediately after the 48th Meeting of the Vietnam–Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, co-chaired by Minister of Finance Nguyễn Văn Thắng and Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Laos–Vietnam Cooperation Committee, Saleumxay Kommasith.

Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng stated that the 48th Meeting of the Vietnam–Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation was co-chaired by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính of Vietnam and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of Laos. The meeting was attended by leaders and representatives from more than 25 ministries, sectors, and localities of both Vietnam and Laos. The meeting was a great success and achieved many important results in bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

At this meeting, the two sides conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation during the 2021–2025 period and in 2025, agreed on and concretized the directions of senior leaders into the Agreement on the Cooperation Plan between the two countries for 2026, and committed to decisively implementing it from the very beginning of the year to promote cooperation across all fields. These include political and diplomatic relations; security and defense; and investment and trade, with specific measures such as enhancing connectivity and complementarity between the Vietnamese and Lao economies—particularly in transport, energy, telecommunications, tourism, and agriculture; adopting concrete solutions to improve the effectiveness of investment cooperation; focusing on removing difficulties and bottlenecks in several aid projects and investment projects of Vietnam in Laos and of Laos in Vietnam; resolutely addressing delays and fragmented investment cooperation; creating favorable conditions for trade development between the two countries; and promoting rapid growth in bilateral trade turnover.

The two sides aim to create new momentum in economic, cultural, educational, healthcare, and scientific and technological cooperation, while promoting the development of Laos’s economic and social infrastructure, especially connectivity-oriented infrastructure, thereby fostering economic development.

The press conference took place immediately after the 48th Meeting of the Vietnam–Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, co-chaired by Minister of Finance Nguyễn Văn Thắng and Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Laos–Vietnam Cooperation Committee, Saleumxay Kommasith.

Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng emphasized several specific cooperation contents agreed upon at the meeting, noting that both sides highly appreciated and welcomed the results of comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in 2025. The two sides have effectively implemented high-level agreements as well as agreements at the ministerial, sectoral, and local levels.

The great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic bond between Vietnam and Laos continue to develop strongly, deepen in substance, and be characterized by close trust, playing a core and guiding role in the overall relationship between the two countries. Defense and security cooperation remains close, effectively contributing to the maintenance of political stability and social order and safety in each country.

Investment cooperation has seen very positive developments. Vietnamese investment in Laos reached USD 566.1 million, more than seven times higher than the same period last year, contributing to a cumulative total investment of USD 6.21 billion across 276 projects. This places Vietnam first among the 85 countries and territories where Vietnam invests abroad, while Vietnam continues to be the third-largest investor in Laos. Over the past five years, tax contributions and other financial obligations paid by Vietnamese enterprises to the Lao Government have averaged approximately USD 200 million per year.

Against the backdrop of ongoing difficulties in the global and regional economy and declining consumer demand, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Laos in 2025 recorded a notable milestone, with total trade turnover in the first ten months of 2025 surpassing USD 2.6 billion, up 50.4% compared to 2024. The promotion of local-currency payments in bilateral economic relations has yielded encouraging results, contributing to enhanced trade and investment between the two countries.

Regarding future cooperation directions, the two sides agreed to focus on effectively implementing Joint Statements and agreements signed at the 48th Meeting; promoting political, diplomatic, defense, and security relations; and creating new breakthroughs in economic, trade, and investment cooperation. This includes adopting solutions to boost bilateral trade turnover to USD 5 billion in the near future and toward USD 10 billion in the longer term; and implementing new projects with genuine effectiveness based on fully exploiting and promoting each other’s potential and strengths. The two sides will study preferential policies to encourage large Vietnamese enterprises to invest in Laos, particularly in manufacturing and processing, clean and renewable energy, digital transformation, high-tech agriculture, mineral exploitation, and tourism.

The two sides need to closely coordinate cooperation in coal and electricity trading from Laos to Vietnam. Regarding power transmission, studies should be conducted to agree on the shortest connection points. In mineral cooperation, enterprises are encouraged to adopt technological solutions for deep processing to enhance economic efficiency for Laos.

In the coming period, priority should be given to strengthening transport connectivity, with particular focus on the effective operation of Berths 1, 2, and 3 of Vũng Áng Port. For the Hanoi–Vientiane expressway, Vietnam will focus on investing in and completing the Vinh–Thanh Thủy section (on Vietnamese territory), while Laos will proactively invest in the Thanh Thủy–Vientiane section (on Lao territory). Regarding the Vientiane–Vũng Áng railway, based on the direction of the Prime Ministers of both countries, the Ministries of Construction of the two sides are requested to promptly coordinate in studying the possibility of cooperation with the Republic of Korea to promote trilateral cooperation in implementing the project.

On the basis of mutual trust, the two countries support and cooperate closely within international and regional organizations and forums. These contents have been concretized in the documents of the meeting that were just signed by the two Chairpersons of the cooperation committees. Immediately after this meeting, the Government of Vietnam will resolutely direct ministries, sectors, localities, enterprises, and relevant units to closely coordinate with their Lao counterparts to promptly implement and effectively carry out the commitments made at the 48th Meeting.

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Laos–Vietnam Cooperation Committee Saleumxay Kommasith stated that the 48th Meeting of the Laos–Vietnam Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation was held very successfully, achieving many important and practical results for bilateral cooperation. The two sides highly appreciated the outcomes of implementing cooperation agreements during the 2021–2025 period, which have brought tangible benefits to the peoples of both Laos and Vietnam.

Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith noted that political and diplomatic relations between the two countries continue to develop strongly, stably, and comprehensively. Exchanges of delegations and high-level and other-level contacts have been maintained regularly, contributing to the consolidation of political trust and creating a solid foundation for the special relationship between the two countries across all fields. At the same time, the two sides have effectively coordinated and supported each other within ASEAN and regional and international forums. Defense and security cooperation continues to be strengthened in a close, effective, and trust-based manner. Bilateral economic cooperation has gradually improved, with Vietnam–Laos trade turnover showing an upward trend over the years and estimated to reach approximately USD 3 billion for the whole of 2025.

In terms of investment, to date, Vietnamese enterprises have invested in Laos through 276 projects with a total registered capital of USD 6.21 billion, ranking first among the 85 countries and territories where Vietnam invests abroad. Many projects operate effectively, making positive contributions to Laos’s socio-economic development, creating jobs, increasing incomes for thousands of workers, and generating state budget revenue, especially in telecommunications, banking, rubber, agriculture, food processing, and dairy production. In the first ten months of 2025, newly registered investment capital by Vietnamese enterprises in Laos reached USD 566.1 million, focusing on high-quality and sustainable projects such as clean energy, mining, and agriculture.

Notably, wind power projects such as Trường Sơn and Savanh 1 have been actively promoted and implemented. In terms of infrastructure connectivity, the two sides have coordinated to advance key projects such as Vũng Áng Port Berths 1, 2, and 3; the Laos–Vietnam railway; and the Vientiane–Hanoi expressway, facilitating the circulation of goods in the region.

Cultural and social cooperation continues to expand, particularly in education and human resource training. The two sides agreed to improve the quality of selection of Lao students studying in Vietnam. In 2026, the Government of Vietnam will continue to grant 1,300 scholarships to Lao officials, students, and pupils. Cooperation between ministries, sectors, and localities of the two countries has become increasingly close and effective.

At the meeting, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing and exchange of four cooperation documents, including: the Vietnam–Laos Cooperation Agreement for the 2026–2030 period; the Vietnam–Laos Cooperation Agreement for 2026; the Minutes of the 48th Meeting; and the Cooperation Plan between the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports and the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training. Both sides expressed confidence that the success of the meeting and the signed documents will make an important contribution to elevating the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam to a new height.

On this occasion, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith expressed his profound gratitude to the Party, State, and people of Vietnam for their steadfast companionship, support, and assistance to Laos during its national liberation struggle as well as in the current cause of national protection, construction, and development. He reaffirmed that the Lao Party and Government always attach the highest importance and priority to the special cooperative relationship between Laos and Vietnam.