Hanoi (VNA) ♕– State President Luong Cuong and a high-level delegation from Vietnam will pay a two-day state visit to Laos at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President Thongloun Sisoulith.

This is the first state visit to Laos by President Cuong, which demonstrates Vietnam's high regard for Laos and the determination of the leaders of the two Parties and countries in promoting the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. As two close neighbours, Vietnam and Laos have an excellent traditional relationship, closely connected throughout the history of nation building. The relationship, founded by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Suphanouvong, and cultivated by successive generations of leaders of the two Parties, two States and people of the two countries, has become a priceless asset for both nations. The two countries officially established diplomatic relations on September 5, 1962. Since then, the bilateral relationship has always been closely connected. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), the two countries’ people have stood shoulder to shoulder since the early days full of challenges and hardships, working together to protect and build the socialist Fatherland in each country. The two Parties and two countries have supported each other, gradually recovering post-war socio-economic development while forming cooperative relations in key areas such as the economy, culture, education, national defense and security, and foreign affairs. In response to the urgent need for extensive cooperation between the two countries in the new situation, on July 18, 1977, Vietnam and Laos signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. Accordingly, the two sides pledge to make every effort to protect and develop the special Vietnam-Laos relationship, constantly strengthen solidarity and mutual trust, long-term cooperation and mutual assistance. They continue to accomplish this in the spirit of proletarian internationalism and according to the principles of complete equality, respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, respect for each other's legitimate interests, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. Over the past 48 years, the treaty has become an important, valuable asset, a solid legal basis for the two countries to continuously expand their special friendship and comprehensive cooperation. The treaty is also a premise for the two countries to sign a series of cooperation agreements in all fields of politics, defence, trade, investment, and education. The two countries upgraded their Traditional Relationship to a Traditional Friendship, Special Solidarity and Comprehensive Cooperation in February 2019 during the visit to Laos by Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong. This is a milestone of important historical significance, creating a new breakthrough in cooperation between the two countries. Since then, the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have grown increasingly close, dynamic and strong. Over the years, under the close guidance of the two countries' senior leaders, the active involvement of ministries, agencies, localities, and enterprises, special cooperation between Vietnam and Laos has achieved various important results across fields. The achievements have contributed to ensuring the stable development in each country, continuing to consolidate and promote their great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation.

The two countries also closely coordinate and support each other at regional and international cooperation forums, especially within the framework of ASEAN, the United Nations and sub-regional mechanisms. In 2024, Vietnam actively coordinated and supported Laos to successfully assume the role of ASEAN Chair 2024 and Chair of the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45).

New impetus for Vietnam-Laos relations

Vietnam and Laos exchange warm greetings on the occasion of their respective traditional New Years. Therefore, President Cuong’s Laos visit this time, taking place in the jubilant and joyful atmosphere of the traditional New Year Boun Pi of Laos Mai will be an important foreign affairs activity, demonstrating the strong Vietnam- Lao traditional relations. The trip carries profound significance, reflecting the consistent view of the Vietnamese Party and State of treasuring the special relationship with Laos, considering it a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy. The visit also reaffirms Vietnam’s strong support for Laos’ ongoing renovation efforts and serves as a concrete action to strengthen the close bond between the high-ranking leaders of both Parties and nations. The visit comes at a significant time when both nations are implementing their respective Party resolutions and socio-economic development plans, having obtained numerous noteworthy achievements, including Vietnam’s support of Laos’s ascension to the 2024 ASEAN Chair. The bilateral cooperation has developed robustly, with high-level agreements being actively implemented and yielding important results across sectors, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Vientiane in an interview a head of the visit. The trip will not only deepen the special solidarity but also serve as an opportunity to exchange views on the situations of each Party and country, as well as regional and international issues of shared concern. On this occasion, the two sides will review the progress in bilateral cooperation and seek measures to further promote this special relationship in the years ahead. Tam said that the complicated regional and world situation, marked by strategic competition among major powers, economic protectionism trends, the impact of climate change and non-traditional security challenges, presents significant challenges for countries, including Vietnam and Laos. Both countries are in the process of deep integration into the international and regional world, so high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and two countries agreed that Vietnam and Laos give priority to each other for cooperation and development. The ambassador expressed his belief that, with the determination of the two Parties, States, and peoples, and the strategic directions laid out for future cooperation, the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos will grow stronger and more sustainably./.