Presidents of Vietnam and Laos hold talks in Vientiane

The talks were held as part of the former’s State visit to Laos, with two sides’ pledge boosting further their special friendship and solidarity in all fields.

General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith hosted a red-carpet welcome ceremony in Vientiane on July 11 for Vietnamese President to Lam and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation who are paying a state visit to the neighboring country, according to a report from the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

Following the ceremony, the Vietnamese and Lao leaders started their talks to seek measures to make the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries deeper and more effective.

President Lam’s visit is taking place at a time when the Vietnam-Laos great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation are thriving with strong political trust, the news agency remarked.

Meanwhile, the Government News  quoted President Thongloun as expressing  at the talks that  he is ready to work with President  to Lam to further promote the relationship between the two countries in a sustainable and effective manner.

The two leaders expressed their delight at the fruitful developments in the bilateral ties and agreed that both sides will continue the exchange of high-level delegations and promote the role of important bilateral cooperation mechanisms in order to maintain and cement political trust at the highest level, the Government News reported. 

According to the news source, both sides reaffirmed the consistent policy of giving the top priority to consolidating and nurturing their great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

The two leaders underlined the need to continue effective implementation of high-level agreements and step up consultation on strategic issues, the Goverrnment News reported, adding that they agreed to promote communication about the history and traditions of the bilateral ties for their peoples, especially the youth; soon put the history of Viet Nam-Laos special relations into curriculum at each side's educational establishments; and work closely to build historical works and relics featuring their relations, including the Laos-Viet Nam Friendship Park in Vientiane.

They pledged to enhance security and defense cooperation to deal with new challenges; and continue mutual support to ensure political stability, security, social order and safety in each country, the news reported

Both sides vowed to closely coordinate in border protection and management, especially preventing and fighting transnational crimes, drug crimes, illegal exploitation of natural resources, and illegal immigration, the Government news said.

It is necessary to upgrade international border gates and roads connecting the two countries; and improve the effectiveness of cooperation in the fields of education and training, tourism, energy, clean agriculture, science, technology, health, culture, people-to-people Eexchanges and local-to-local linkages, the two leaders were quoted by the  Government News as  emphasizing.

The two countries need to increase the sharing and exchange of information, bolster close cooperation at regional and international forums, ensure solidarity and promote the central role of ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms, they noted, according to the news.

President To Lam was quoted by the Government News as saying that Vietnam will wholeheartedly support Laos to successfully undertake important international roles in 2024, including the role of ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) chairmanships.

He announced the delivery of 20 VinFast electric cars to assist Laos during its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024, the Government News reported

Meanwhile, the Vietnam News Agency said that the two countries' bilateral economic, trade and investment partnership is expanding, with two-way trade reaching over $1.46 billion in 2023 and over $620 million in the first four months of this year, a year-on-year rise of 10.6%.

Vietnam is investing in 241 projects in Laos with a total capital of about $5.5 billion, ranking third among the countries and territories investing there, the State-run news agency further reported.

That Laos is the first foreign country President to Lam visits as the state leader of Vietnam shows the special attention and priority Vietnam attaches to the neighboring country, the news agency commented

The sound traditional relations, close bond, and faithful friendship between the two peoples, initiated by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong, have been nurtured and reinforced by generations of leaders and people of the two countries, becoming a shared priceless asset of the two nations and the common rule of development of the two countries, it further remarked

The two sides elevated their ties from “traditional” to "great traditional” in February 2019, marking a significant historical milestone and creating a new breakthrough in the relations between the two countries, the news agency stressed.