Party leader to visit Laos from November 24-26

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong will visit Laos from November 24-26 at the invitation of the General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Bounnhang Volachith.

This is the CPV leader’s first trip abroad since the 12th Party Congress in January 2016, aiming to affirm Vietnam’s policy of treasuring ties with Laos and boosting solidarity and cooperation between the two countries.

The Vietnam-Laos friendship, founded by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane and nurtured by generations of leaders of the two Parties, States and peoples, is a shared treasure of both nations. 

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.

Throughout the history, bilateral ties have been consolidated across various fields. The two sides have implemented agreements between the two Parties and States as well as outcomes of the 38th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Vietnam-Laos. 

Bilateral political relations have been fostered as well. The two sides have worked together to organise meetings and visits among senior leaders of the two Parties and States, while opening research and theory courses for officials of the Lao Party, Government and organisations at all levels. 

They have also strengthened the exchange of information through conferences and shared experience in Party building, socio-economic management, while coordinating in popularising the friendship between Vietnam and Laos. 

Bilateral cooperation in defence, security and external relations is another area that has been developed. The two countries have signed and implemented important legal documents on demarcation, while fostering affiliation in building a shared border of stability and sustainable development. 

Vietnam and Laos have also completed a joint project to upgrade the land marker system on the shared border, while working together in repatriating the remains of Vietnamese soldiers who died in Laos. 

They have prepared for activities to mark the 55th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and 40th anniversary of the Vietnam-Laos treaty on friendship and cooperation in 2017. 

Along with sound political relations, Vietnam-Laos economic ties have enjoyed strong growth in recent years, laying a foundation to promote their connections and the special relationship. 

Thanks to preferential policies that both countries have given to each other, bilateral trade has risen, reaching nearly US$600 million in the first half of 2016 with Vietnam’s exports at about US$340 million. 

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnam has run 266 projects in Laos with a total investment of about US$5.5 billion. Many Vietnamese-funded projects, mostly in hydropower, mining, rubber and industrial plant planting and transportation, have contributed to the development of Laos. 

The two countries also signed an agreement on strategy to cooperate in transportation for 2016-2025, while working closely together in inspection and implementing signed agreements, as well as in tackling difficulties during the work, creating a synchronised legal corridor to boost economic, trade and investment ties. 

Vietnam and Laos also realised a project to enhance the quality and efficiency of cooperation in education and human resource development in 2011-2020 in parallel with the summary of education-training in 2011-2015 and orientations for the 2016-2020 period. 

The teaching of Vietnamese in schools and agencies of Laos has also been sped up. Currently, more than 12,000 Lao officials and students are studying in Vietnam, while a large number of Vietnamese officials and students study in Laos. 

Meanwhile, bilateral ties in science-technology, agriculture, communications, labour, culture and tourism have also been bolstered, as has friendship and cooperation among ministries, organisations and localities of both sides. 

Cities and provinces of Vietnam have expanded their affiliations with Lao localities and supported them in building infrastructure and improving health care, and human resources and reducing poverty. 

The visit of Party General Secretary Trong aims to highlight the strong support of Vietnam to the renewal and national construction of Laos. 

During the visit, the two sides will discuss their future cooperation as well as measures to improve the efficiency of Vietnam-Laos ties in 2016-2020 in politics, diplomacy, defence, security, economy, culture, education, science and technology as well as affiliation between ministries, sectors and localities of both sides.

VNA

Other News

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

The NA's Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs has moved fast to reshuffle its organisation after the 14th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 16th NA, updating its work agenda to match new directives set out in the resolutions of the 14th National Party Congress and the first Congress of the NA Party Organisation for the 2025–2030 term.

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam and Croatia should strive to double bilateral trade turnover from the current level of 161 million USD; study the establishment of a Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation to create a long-term, stable, and effective framework for collaboration, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Jesús Faria expressed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s indomitable struggle for national independence. He described President Ho Chi Minh as an immortal symbol of 20th-century national liberation movements, whose legacy continues to inspire leftist parties, progressive movements, and peoples across Latin America, including Venezuela.

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang shared Vietnam’s approach to building an independent and self-reliant economy linked to deep international integration, while proposing several key areas for enhanced cooperation between BRICS and partner countries at the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting that opened on May 14 in India.

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

PSNews - The spokesperson stated that the dispatch of personnel by relevant parties to features belonging to Truong Sa without Vietnam’s permission constitutes a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty under international law. She stressed that such actions run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as ongoing efforts by countries to negotiate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

PSNews - Vietnam’s proposals placed the highest priority on ensuring a peaceful and stable environment conducive for continued sustainable development and improving the well-being and happiness of the ASEAN people. They were praised by member states and incorporated into the core contents of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the response to the Middle East crisis.

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam highly values the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in strengthening national capacity in crime prevention and criminal justice, drug control, and addressing emerging challenges, particularly cybercrime, said Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang.

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Consolidating the central steering committees for institutional and legal reform and for judicial reform is necessary in order to streamline organisational structures without reducing responsibilities, while ensuring clear accountability, measurable outputs and concrete results. Following the restructuring, the body will be renamed the central steering committee for institutional improvement and law enforcement, with the Party General Secretary and State President serving as its head.

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

At the meeting this week, Ambassador Viet briefed the UNGA President on developments during the first two weeks of the conference. He stressed that the current international geopolitical landscape poses numerous complex challenges, while reaffirming Vietnam’s determination, together with other member states, to promote substantive and balanced outcomes at the conference.

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

The host leader stressed that cooperation between localities, particularly between the capitals of Hanoi and Vientiane, plays an especially important role as a pioneering force in effectively implementing the foreign polices of the two Parties and States, while also serving as a bridge between politics and development, as well as between strategy and concrete action.