Vietnam and Laos have agreed to accelerate cooperation in transport, energy, trade and investment, while addressing difficulties faced by businesses at the mid-term meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Committee held in Vietnam's central Da Nang city on August 27.
Vietnamese Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Committee Ngo Van Tuan stressed the need to strengthen economic connectivity and create breakthroughs in bilateral economic and investment cooperation.
The two sides should mobilize financial resources to develop infrastructure connecting the two countries while placing greater emphasis on developing high-quality human resources, he said.
Priority areas include the green and digital economies, high technology, innovation, renewable energy and high-tech agriculture. The two countries will also promote tourism, bilateral trade, education and training.
Regarding infrastructure connectivity, Minister Tuan called for closer coordination to develop transport infrastructure and facilitate trade, particularly agricultural trade. Vietnam and Laos should also accelerate the development of railway links between the two countries and with other ASEAN members, he said.
Lao Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Laos - Vietnam Cooperation Committee Santiphab Phomvihane, for his part, stated that Laos is ready to facilitate Vietnamese businesses operating in Laos.
Laos will also continue to promote several important infrastructure connectivity projects such as the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway, oil pipeline systems, and railways, he said.
Regarding economic cooperation and investment, in the first 7 months of 2026, Vietnam has 20 projects invested in Laos with a total registered capital of $638.3 million, 4.2 times higher than the same period in 2025. Laos continues to be the largest overseas investment destination for Vietnam with 300 projects and a total registered capital of $7.04 billion.
Bilateral trade between the two neighboring countries reached $1.3 billion in the first six months of 2026.
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