At the invitation of Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and his wife, Vietnamese General Secretary To Lam and his wife and a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Party and State will pay a state visit to Laos from December 1-2, 2025.
On this occasion, VNA correspondent in Laos had an interview with Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam about the meaning and importance of the visit. The following is the content of the interview.
- Dear Ambassador, could you please tell us what is the significance of General Secretary To Lam 's visit to Laos for the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos?
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam : At the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith and his wife, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam and his wife, along with a high-ranking delegation of the Party and State of Vietnam, will pay a State visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic, attend the 50th Anniversary of Laos' National Day, and co-chair the High-level Meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party from December 1-2, 2025.
This visit to Laos by General Secretary To Lam, his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation has historical significance and special importance to the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
Firstly, 2025 is a year of special importance for both countries with many major holidays such as: 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 135th anniversary of the birth of President Ho Chi Minh and 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification of Vietnam; 70th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, 105th anniversary of the birth of President Kaysone Phomvihane.
The State visit of General Secretary To Lam and his wife takes place in the context that the two Parties, States and peoples are making efforts to implement strategic goals for national development, actively preparing for the National Congress and conducting elections for new terms in each country in 2026.
The visit is a historic diplomatic activity, demonstrating the respect, deep concern, close affection and great support and encouragement of the two Parties, two countries and two peoples for each other; contributing to consolidating political trust, enhancing comprehensive cooperation and opening up new directions for cooperation between the two countries in the new era.
Second, the visit took place on the solemn occasion of the 50th anniversary of Laos' National Day, a historical milestone marking half a century of construction and development of the brotherly country of Laos under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.
General Secretary To Lam's visit and attendance at the 50th Anniversary of Laos' National Day demonstrates the special affection, deep sharing and loyal solidarity between the two Parties, States and peoples, and affirms that the success of each country is also the common success of the two countries; the great achievements that the Lao Party, State and people have achieved in recent times are a source of great encouragement and motivation for Vietnam.
This is also a vivid demonstration of the close and loyal relationship, sharing the good times and the bad, standing shoulder to shoulder between the two Parties, two countries and two peoples in the past struggle for national liberation as well as in the current cause of national protection and construction, which General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith summarized in four words: "comradeship, friendship, solidarity, brotherhood" between the two peoples.
The visit once again affirms the continued inheritance, promotion of tradition and further deepening of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos; determination to preserve, protect and nurture the Vietnam-Laos relationship to be forever green and everlasting as the sacred testament of the great President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and beloved President Souphanouvong always wished.
- Dear Ambassador, within the framework of this visit to Laos, what exchanges and discussions do the two sides expect to have to continue to foster and deepen the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos?
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam : During the visit, General Secretary To Lam is expected to hold talks with General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith; meet with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane; visit former senior Lao leaders; attend the 50th National Day celebration; lay wreaths at the Monument to Unknown Martyrs; attend the inauguration ceremony of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Park; deliver policy speeches at the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration and a number of other activities; and co-chair the High-level Meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.
The two sides are expected to inform each other about the situation of each Party and each country; share and assess the world and regional situation of mutual interest; exchange many important cooperation contents, summarize and evaluate the cooperation between the two countries in the past 5 years in various fields and propose major orientations for the cooperation in the new period in the fields of: politics; defense, security and foreign affairs; economic cooperation; culture, education, health, science and technology; cooperation between Party committees, ministries, branches and localities of the two countries.
Firstly, the two sides continue to deepen political relations, which are the core of the overall orientation of the relationship between the two countries; strengthen cooperation in strategic issues related to security and development of each country; improve the effectiveness of cooperation at all levels, sectors and localities of the two countries; maintain visits and high-level meetings between the two Parties, the two States, ministries, sectors and localities.
Second, the two sides continue to closely coordinate in the fields of defense, security and foreign affairs, considering this an important pillar in the Vietnam-Laos relationship, contributing to ensuring political security, social order, and firmly protecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Third, create a strong, breakthrough, strategic shift in economic, trade, investment and infrastructure development cooperation to match the stature of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship.
Fourth, strengthen cultural and educational cooperation and people-to-people exchange, thereby deepening the close bond and loyalty between the two peoples.
Fifth, expand cooperation, improve efficiency, and help each other between the ministries, branches, and localities of the two countries.
During the visit, the two sides are expected to sign a number of important cooperation documents, creating a legal corridor, opening up new cooperation directions, in accordance with the development requirements of each country and the common interests of the two peoples, continuing to deepen the special Vietnam-Laos relationship in the new situation.
It can be affirmed that the contents expected to be exchanged during this visit will be a solid foundation for the two countries to continue to overcome difficulties and challenges together in the cause of protecting and developing the country, demonstrating a common vision and intertwined strategic interests for long-term sustainable development, self-reliance and common prosperity of the two peoples, actively contributing to peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and development of the region and the world.
- Dear Ambassador, in the context of complicated developments in the regional and world situation, what should Vietnam and Laos do to continue to preserve, consolidate and further develop the special, loyal and steadfast relationship between the two Parties, two States and peoples?
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam: The Vietnam-Laos relationship is an exemplary, loyal, pure, and rare relationship in international relations, formed long ago, with the same origin as the Communist Party of Indochina, tested in the flames of war through the long-term struggles for national liberation of each country and increasingly strong in the cause of building, protecting and developing the countries of the two peoples today.
In the context of the world and regional situation having many rapid, complicated and unpredictable developments, along with the great impact of the fourth industrial revolution and deep international integration, preserving and nurturing the special Vietnam-Laos relationship is increasingly developing in depth, practically and effectively in all fields, with more strategic significance and urgent importance than ever.
To continue to consolidate and develop the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in the new period, the two countries need to focus on the following major focuses:
Firstly, the core is to maintain and continuously consolidate the political foundation; continue to deepen the bond and close coordination on strategic issues related to security and sustainable development of each country; increase experience sharing in Party building, political system building, ensuring national defense and security, expanding foreign relations and international integration.
At the same time, it is necessary to promote propaganda about the traditional history of Vietnam - Laos relations among cadres, party members and people, especially the youth generation of the two countries, so that the spirit of solidarity, loyalty and steadfastness is always inherited and shines through each generation.
Second, the two countries continue to expand new economic cooperation corridors, strengthen connectivity and mutual support between the two economies, especially in the fields of institutions, finance, transport infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, telecommunications and tourism, building production-consumption chains, innovation, science-technology and green development, connecting businesses and people. These are new areas that create momentum for growth, while at the same time more closely connecting the two economies, helping Vietnam and Laos develop sustainably and self-reliantly.
Third, it is necessary to attach importance to the human factor and enhance people-to-people exchanges. This is the strong bond, the “soul” of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship. The two sides need to continue to focus on expanding cooperation in education and training, creating conditions for cadres, young party members, youth, students and pupils of the two countries to connect, exchange, study, grow together, and become “people’s ambassadors” to continue the precious tradition that previous generations have worked hard to cultivate.
Fourth, in the volatile international environment, the two countries need to strengthen coordination, trust and mutual support at regional and international forums, especially within ASEAN and the Mekong Sub-region mechanisms, thereby jointly protecting common interests and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in the region.
The senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries have affirmed that "No force can divide the Vietnam-Laos relationship." This is a strong affirmation of the will and determination of the two Parties, two States and peoples in preserving and nurturing the special solidarity relationship between Vietnam and Laos to be forever green and everlasting.
I firmly believe that, with the tradition of special solidarity, strong political trust and consensus of the two peoples, Vietnam and Laos will continue to stand side by side, develop together and together nurture the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos to develop sustainably and last forever.
Reporter: Thank you very much, Ambassador!./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phat-huy-truyen-thong-va-lam-sau-sac-them-noi-ham-moi-quan-he-dac-biet-viet-lao-post1079980.vnp
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