Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concluded his official visit to Laos on January 12, helping to create new momentum for the development of special relations between the two countries.

During the visit, Prime Minister Chinh engaged in 20 different activities, including talks with his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone, meetings with Lao Party and State leaders, co-chairing the 45th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, and attending the Vietnam-Laos Investment Forum.

At these meetings, he and Lao leaders pledged to support each other in building independent and self-reliant economies, promoting joint efforts in improving the business and investment environment in each country, and fostering links between the two economies.

The leaders agreed to maintain two-way trade growth of at least 10-15 per cent a year and to expand ties in justice, science and technology, culture, tourism, people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation between localities, especially those along the border.

Ten cooperation agreements were signed during the visit, in banking and finance, transport, economic diplomacy, science and technology, ICT, education and training, and healthcare.