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

General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed that in the coming time, both sides need to focus on effectively implementing the agreements and cooperation agreements between the two countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh warmly congratulated Laos on its role as ASEAN Chair in 2024 and expressed his hope for the successful organization of important ASEAN meetings. He conveyed the greetings from General Secretary and President To Lam, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, wishing that with thorough and professional preparation, drawing from the experiences gained during its previous roles as ASEAN Chair in 2004 and 2016, Laos will successfully host the ASEAN Summit and AIPA 45. This will contribute practically to the stable and sustainable development and growth of the region while enhancing Laos's role and position internationally.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh 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 views this relationship as a priceless asset, an objective requirement, the highest priority, the number one choice, and a vital factor for the revolutionary cause of both countries, which must be preserved for future generations. He assured that he would direct ministries, sectors, and localities in Vietnam to closely coordinate with their Lao counterparts to effectively implement the high-level agreements between the two countries, including the Joint Declaration of Vietnam and Laos during the 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 Pham Minh Chinh for leading a high-level Vietnamese delegation to attend the ASEAN Summit in Laos. He also thanked General Secretary and President To Lam and other senior leaders of Vietnam for their warm and brotherly reception of the high-level Lao delegation during their recent state visit. Thongloun Sisoulith expressed appreciation for the valuable material and spiritual assistance from Vietnam, embodying the spirit of "those with little should help those with much," which has helped Laos quickly overcome the consequences of floods; he praised Vietnam's active support for Laos during its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024, affirming that Laos's success in this role significantly benefited from Vietnam's contributions.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith

General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed that in the near future, both sides should focus on effectively implementing the agreements and cooperation accords between the two countries, especially the results from the recent meeting between the two Politburos in Hanoi. They emphasized the need to further enhance connectivity between the economies of Vietnam and Laos and among the economies of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia; to continue regularly exchanging experiences and information, closely coordinating, and supporting each other at international and regional forums, especially at ASEAN, the United Nations, and sub-regional mechanisms.

In the context of a complex global and regional situation, both sides affirmed their commitment to nurture the Vietnam-Laos relationship to be "forever green and everlasting," enhancing economic cooperation to develop effectively and meaningfully, commensurate with their political relationship, in order to better meet the practical interests of each country and align with the development needs in this new stage.