Vientiane (VNA) – Prime Minist👍er Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Laos and his co-chairing of the 47th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Inter-Governmental Committee is extremely important to both Vietnam and Laos, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam told the Vietnam News Agency on th⛄e threshold of the trip.

This is the first overseas trip by a key Vietnamese leader in 2025 and the first such visit that Laos will host this year, underscoring the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two neighbouring countries, said the ambassador. The visit, to be made on January 9 - 10 at the invitation of Lao PM Sonexay Siphandone, reaffirms the top priority Vietnam gives to the enhancement of relations with Laos in the new context, deepening the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, the diplomat stated. He said that within the 47th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, the two sides will review the implementation of the countries' 2024 cooperation plan across all aspects and discuss directions for 2025. The discussion will focus on political, diplomatic, national defence and security, economic, educational, human resources development, and vocational training cooperation, as well as other areas of mutual interest. Both sides will also explore breakthrough measures to improve economic, trade, and investment partnerships, enabling the countries to stay resilient to risks and challenges posed by global geopolitical competition while fostering sustainable socio-economic development. On this occasion, the two sides will organise a Vietnam - Laos investment cooperation conference, inaugurate the Laos - Vietnam Friendship Park, and sign a number of important cooperation agreements, he added. Tam highlighted the significance of the Vietnamese PM’s trip to strengthening connections between the Vietnamese and Lao economies, particularly in terms of regulations, financial and monetary systems, transport infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, agriculture, business, tourism, and digital transformation. These efforts will help both countries enhance resilience in the face of economic and geopolitical volatility while leveraging new opportunities for growth. Underlining that the Vietnam - Laos relationship plays a crucial role in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in Southeast Asia and the world, the diplomat held that strengthening bilateral cooperation will help enhance the role and stature of each country, as well as their common voice in ASEAN and other regional forums, thereby promoting solidarity and consensus in today’s evolving global context. At the same time, the visit also manifests the strong political determination of the leadership of both Parties and States to intensify the Vietnam - Laos special relationship, making it more tangible and effective across all areas, particularly in the face of regional and global challenges. This will guide both countries toward sustainable and stable development in the future, he said.

Regarding major areas that the two sides should focus on in the future, Ambassador Tam said that the effective implementation of agreements reached by leaders of the two Parties and States, the joint statements and cooperation deals between the two Governments, as well as collaboration programmes among ministries, sectors, localities and businesses is significant to the sustainable development of both countries. To do that, he stressed the need for both to have a deep and full understanding of the immense value of the Vietnam - Laos special relationship, which has been built on a solid foundation of solidarity and mutual support. This relationship is an objective factor, a historical rule and one of the greatest sources of strength for both nations in their efforts of national construction and safeguarding. The two countries should continue to maintain and enhance the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms, review and propose new ones, and work closely together on security and development issues. There should be increased information exchange and sharing of experiences in areas such as the Party and political system building, socio-economic development, macroeconomic stabilisation, national defence and security, and international relations. They should also prepare for important high-level visits and significant events in 2025 such as the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day, the 50th anniversary of Laos' National Day, the 95th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 70th anniversary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the 135th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh, and the 105th birth anniversary of President Kaysone Phomvihane. It is essential to further deepen cooperation in national defence and security, ensuring the countries are solid sources of support for each other to deal with increasingly complex security challenges. This will help maintain political stability and social order in both countries and, especially, build a shared border of peacef, friendship, stability, cooperation and common development, said the ambassador. The countries need to focus on creating breakthroughs in the implementation of high-level agreements, including the Vietnam - Laos Agreement on Cooperation Strategy for 2021 - 2030 and the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement for 2021 - 2025. Key areas include developing independent and self-reliant economies through projects that connect the two economies in trade, investment, transport infrastructure, energy (including clean and renewable energy), finance, technology, agriculture, minerals, and tourism. Encouraging and attracting Vietnamese enterprises to invest in Laos’ priority sectors such as energy, digital transformation, technology, agriculture, mining, clean energy, and tourism is essential. It’s also important to strengthen monitoring and oversight of the progress of projects to ensure these agreements are realised quickly, practically benefiting both nations and their peoples. He also underlined to need to enhance cooperation in culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges, along with promoting public understanding of the great friendship between the two countries, particularly among the young, to ensure that this relationship remains vibrant and enduring for future generations. The diplomat expressed his confidence that PM Chinh’s visit and co-chairing of the 47th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee will be successful, providing a new impetus for the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation to develop more subtantively and effectively across the board./.