Vietnam and Laos have pledged to strengthen the connectivity between the two economies, further promote multifield cooperation, and accelerate existing projects including the Hanoi-Vientiane expressway.

Both sides have also signed four new cooperative agreements.

The pledge was made during the talks between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone on Saturday, when the latter and his spouse, along with their entourage, arrived in Hanoi for a two-day official visit and the 46th meeting of the two countries’ Inter-Governmental Committee.

PM Chinh highly appreciated the first visit to Vietnam by PM Siphandone and affirmed Vietnam treasures and gives top priority to beefing up the special relationship between the two nations. 

The guest thanked the government and people of Vietnam for their warm and respectful welcome for the Laotian delegation.

The two leaders expressed their pleasure at the fruitful development of the bilateral ties in all fields between the two countries over the past years.

They agreed to continue to effectively implement the agreements between the two governments, including the Vietnam-Laos strategic co-operation agreement for the 2021-30 period, the bilateral cooperation agreement for the 2021-25 period, and the agreement on the Vietnam-Laos cooperation plan for 2024.

The two sides emphasized the need to strengthen the connectivity between the two economies, especially in institutions and policies, finance, transport infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, and tourism.

They were determined to expedite the Vientiane-Hanoi expressway project, the railway project to connect Vientiane in Laos and Vung Ang in north-central Vietnam’s Ha Tinh Province, and other key cooperation programs.

The two PMs agreed to keep improving the effectiveness of defense and security cooperation, including strengthening border management and protection, and preventing transnational crimes, especially those relating to drugs.

They committed to strengthening their collaborative efforts in the search, recovery, and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives in Laos.

Vietnam and Laos have agreed to mutually support the construction of independent, self-reliant economies, emphasizing proactive, active, deep, substantive, and effective international integration in each country.

The two leaders also pledged to promote development cooperation between the localities of the two nations.

The host and guest vowed to review and remove all obstacles facing Vietnamese businesses in Laos, thereby facilitating their operations in the country.

The two sides were determined to effectively implement protocols and cooperation projects in education and human resource development.

PM Chinh and his guest also discussed a number of international and regional issues of mutual concern, pledging continued collaboration at regional and international platforms like ASEAN, the UN, and the Mekong sub-region cooperation mechanisms.

They reiterated their commitment to supporting each other and prioritized strengthening close cooperative relations between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

He affirmed that Vietnam is ready to support Laos to successfully undertake international responsibilities in 2024, including its role as the ASEAN chair.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing ceremony for four cooperation documents, including a protocol on border defense cooperation, a plan for educational and training cooperation, and two memoranda of understanding on border trade infrastructure connection and on collaboration between the Vietnamese government’s office and the Laotian prime minister’s office. 

Vietnam and Laos set up diplomatic ties in 1962 and their relationship has fruitfully developed in all fields ever since. 

Last year, two-way trade between Vietnam and Laos topped US$1.5 billion, a testament to the flourishing economic ties between the two nations, according to the Voice of Vietnam.

As of today, Vietnam boasts a substantial presence in Laos with 241 investment projects, amounting to a total value of $5.47 billion. This places Vietnam comfortably in third place among all countries and territories investing in Laos.

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