Vietnam values ​​and gives highest priority to the special Vietnam-Laos relationship.

On the morning of January 6, after the official welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Sonexay Siphandone and his wife on an official visit to Vietnam, and co-chairing the 46th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee from January 6-7, 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had talks with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

In a warm and friendly atmosphere, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh warmly welcomed Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on his first official visit to Vietnam in his new position; highly appreciated the achievements that the Lao Party, State and people have achieved; especially the stable socio-political situation, maintained national defense and security, and economic recovery; believed that under the wise leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the brotherly country of Laos will overcome all difficulties and challenges, successfully implement the 9th Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan, and continue to successfully implement the Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sincerely thanked the Lao Party and State for their valuable support and assistance to Vietnam’s past struggle for national independence and its current cause of national construction and development; affirming that Vietnam always attaches importance to and gives the highest priority to the special Vietnam-Laos relationship.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for the warm and respectful welcome given to the Lao Government's high-ranking delegation; he emphasized his joy in visiting Vietnam for the first time in his new position.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone expressed his impression and congratulated Vietnam on its great achievements in socio-economic development, national defense-security, and foreign affairs, which have helped to continuously enhance Vietnam's prestige and position in the international arena, and considered this a great encouragement for the cause of protecting and building Laos.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone sincerely thanked Vietnam for its valuable, wholehearted support and assistance to Laos during the struggle for independence and the process of national development.

The two Prime Ministers expressed their delight at the fine, comprehensive, extensive and effective development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in all fields.

Political relations continue to be strengthened, increasingly trustworthy, close and play a core role in guiding the overall relationship between the two countries. The two sides regularly exchange visits and high-level meetings and contacts. Defense, security and foreign affairs cooperation continue to be important pillars, increasingly in-depth and effective, helping to consolidate the solid foundation of the relationship between the two countries.

Economic, trade and investment cooperation continues to have positive changes. Vietnam currently has 241 investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of 5.47 billion USD, maintaining the 3rd position among countries/territories investing in Laos. The total bilateral trade turnover in 2023 is expected to reach more than 1.5 billion USD. Cooperation in other fields such as education-training, culture, science and technology, tourism and people-to-people exchange... is constantly being consolidated and enhanced.

Regarding the direction of cooperation in the coming time, the two Prime Ministers agreed to increase the exchange of high-level visits and contacts; continue to focus on effectively implementing agreements between high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and the two countries of Vietnam and Laos, and agreements between the three leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; effectively implement agreements between the two Governments, including the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Strategy Agreement for the 2021-2030 period, the Agreement on Vietnam-Laos Bilateral Cooperation for the 2021-2025 period, and the Agreement on the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Plan 2024.

The two Prime Ministers agreed to continue to enhance the effectiveness of defense and security cooperation to effectively handle new challenges; strengthen border management and protection, and prevent transnational crimes, especially drug crimes; continue to coordinate and support in searching for, excavating and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos; and promote development cooperation between localities of the two countries.

The two sides will strengthen the connection between the two economies of Vietnam and Laos, especially in terms of institutions, finance, transport infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, and tourism; continue to promote the Vientiane-Hanoi expressway, Vientiane-Vung Ang railway, and other key cooperation projects; support each other in building an independent and self-reliant economy, associated with proactive and active international integration, in a deep, substantive, and effective manner; strengthen tripartite cooperation between Vietnam and Laos and appropriate development partners to attract and create more resources for cooperation projects; coordinate to review and resolve difficulties and obstacles, creating a favorable investment and business environment for Vietnamese enterprises to feel secure doing business in Laos; effectively implement the Protocols and Cooperation Projects in the fields of education and human resources development; promote cooperation in health, culture, arts, and sports; Promote propaganda and education about the tradition of special relations between Vietnam and Laos for all classes of people, especially the young generation of the two countries.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two Prime Ministers emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability in the region, including maintaining solidarity, common stance and ASEAN's central role in regional security and strategic issues, including the East Sea issue; agreed to continue to closely coordinate and support each other at regional and international forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations, and Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms; and especially to continuously promote the close cooperative relationship between Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is ready to support Laos to successfully assume its international responsibilities in 2024, including the role of ASEAN Chair.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully sent greetings, best wishes and New Year greetings from General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and senior leaders of Vietnam to Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary and President; Mr. Xaysomphone Phomvihane, Chairman of the National Assembly and senior leaders of the Lao Party and State.

Immediately after the talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of four cooperation documents, including: Border Cooperation Protocol between the Vietnamese and Lao Ministries of National Defense; Memorandum of Understanding on the Cooperation Plan between the Vietnamese Government Office and the Lao Prime Minister's Office; Memorandum of Understanding on the development and connection of border trade infrastructure between the Vietnamese and Lao Governments; and Cooperation Plan for 2024 between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports.