On the evening of December 1, in the capital city of Vientiane, General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation held a meeting with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community living and working in Laos. During the gathering, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam presented a summary report on the status of bilateral relations, the situation of the Vietnamese community and businesses in Laos, and the performance of the Embassy and other representative agencies. The Ambassador noted that the special cooperation between Vietnam and Laos is flourishing. Political ties have been strengthened and are becoming increasingly profound and trust-based, affirming their role as the core and overall orientation for the relationship. Cooperation in defense, security, and foreign affairs remains a vital pillar, while economic, trade, and investment ties have seen positive, high-quality transformations with remarkable results. Furthermore, focus remains on cooperation in culture, education, training, and human resource development. Collaborative efforts between Party boards, ministries, sectors, mass organizations, and localities continue to be implemented substantively and effectively. People-to-people diplomacy is also a priority, with vibrant exchange activities further tightening the unique friendship between the two countries.

In recent years, the Embassy has made significant efforts to provide strategic advice to the home country and act as a bridge between the Party, State, National Assembly, Government, and various organizations. These efforts have contributed to the firm consolidation of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship, making cooperation deeper and more effective across all sectors. The Vietnamese community in Laos continues to uphold traditions of patriotism, solidarity, and mutual support, consistently abiding by local laws and maintaining excellent relations with the host authorities and people. The community's educational system, from kindergarten to high school, receives regular attention and development, while the preservation of the Vietnamese language and culture is highly valued. The Embassy has also provided support for religious and belief-based activities within the community and has actively connected businesses to promote economic cooperation. These initiatives have helped create jobs, improve the livelihoods of local Lao people in project areas, contribute to the Lao state budget, and ensure social welfare in the region.

Addressing the gathering, General Secretary To Lam highlighted that this state visit by the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation coincides with the 50th anniversary of Laos's National Day—a momentous milestone in the history of the "Land of a Million Elephants." Within the framework of the visit, the leaders of both countries held productive discussions and agreed to upgrade the relationship to the level of "Great Friendship, Special Solidarity, Comprehensive Cooperation, and Strategic Bond." This elevation demonstrates a common vision and the determination of both nations to walk together toward a future of shared prosperity and self-reliance. Providing an update on the domestic situation, the General Secretary informed the community that despite global challenges and natural disasters over the past year, Vietnam has maintained stability and development through the persistent efforts and unity of the Party, the people, and the military.

After listening to the Ambassador's report and the comments from the community, the General Secretary expressed his great joy at seeing the Vietnamese community in Laos remain united and supportive of one another. He commended their efforts to preserve national cultural identity, comply with Lao laws, and integrate successfully into local society, thereby earning the trust and affection of their Lao friends. He emphasized that the community serves as an important bridge of friendship, contributing to the growth of bilateral cooperation. He found it particularly moving and heartening that the community always looks toward their homeland, and that Vietnamese children born and raised in Laos are still learning the mother tongue and understanding the historical and cultural traditions of Vietnam.

Affirming that the overseas Vietnamese community is an inseparable and vital part of the Vietnamese nation, the General Secretary stated that the Party and State would continue to refine policies to support expatriates in investment, education, research, entrepreneurship, and the teaching of the Vietnamese language. He expressed his confidence that the Vietnamese community in Laos would continue to grow steadily, integrate further, and serve as a direct and firm foundation for the special friendship between the two countries. He urged community associations to continue their role in connecting expatriates to build a cohesive community that stands shoulder-to-shoulder in mutual support.

The General Secretary highly appreciated and commended the efforts of the collective and individual staff members of the Embassy and representative agencies in Laos for overcoming difficulties to fulfill the diplomatic missions entrusted to them. He expressed his firm belief that these agencies and the community would continue to promote fine traditions and internal solidarity to excellently complete all tasks. Finally, he requested that the Embassy and representative agencies continue to enhance their advisory roles by staying informed about the policies and development orientations of the Lao Party and State to make appropriate and effective proposals. He called for intensified diplomacy, the diversification of exchange channels, and the strengthening of people-to-people diplomacy to create broad social consensus in Laos regarding the friendship with Vietnam. Furthermore, these agencies must create the best conditions to promote economic, trade, and investment cooperation, assisting Vietnamese businesses in exploring opportunities in Laos while helping Lao enterprises access the Vietnamese market. He concluded by emphasizing the need to care for the lives of the Vietnamese community, enhance citizen protection, and coordinate with the community to maintain cultural activities and Vietnamese language education for the younger generations.