Vietnam - Laos relations enter the "strategic engagement" phase, creating new momentum for cooperation.

The important results of the 48th Meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee will create new momentum, contributing to promoting and deepening the relationship between the two countries.

Last night (December 3), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation returned to Hanoi , successfully concluding their working trip: co-chairing the 48th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee in the capital Vientiane.

Taking place right after the State visit to Laos by General Secretary To Lam and his wife, the Prime Minister's working trip aims to immediately deploy and concretize the important results achieved during the General Secretary's historic visit.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone co-chaired the 48th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation. Photo: VGP

The 48th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee aims to review and evaluate the implementation of agreements in the Vietnam - Laos Cooperation Plan for the 2021 - 2025 period and 2025; at the same time, discuss and agree on cooperation directions and tasks for the 2026 - 2030 period and 2026 with the motto "political relations are vital, defense - security and economic cooperation is key, science, technology, education - training cooperation is a breakthrough, business and people cooperation is the foundation, local cooperation is the lever".

The two sides agreed to continue connecting the two economies, connecting infrastructure, ensuring economic security and energy security of each country; researching and implementing large-scale projects in Laos; and creating favorable and preferential conditions for large projects of Vietnamese enterprises investing in Laos.

''This session also demonstrates the determination of the two Parties and States to bring the bilateral relationship to a new level, with strategic connection. In addition to the traditional relationship of "great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation", the two countries have now raised their relationship to a higher level of "strategic connection", Mr. Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized.

Not only did the two governments immediately implement the work of bringing the bilateral relationship to the level of "strategic engagement", but they also concretized the agreements of the two Parties. This was done through specific directions and measures, demonstrated in the meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, the narrow talks with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and four important documents signed at the 48th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee. This session created new and very important conditions for the two countries to implement the development guidelines, defense and security guidelines and foreign policies set out by the two Parties during the next Congress term, which will be held in early 2026.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone witnessed businesses of the two countries signing and exchanging cooperation documents in various fields. Photo: VGP

In order to immediately implement and concretize the results of the High-level Meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the agreements reached during the state visit to Laos by General Secretary To Lam and his wife, during the working trip, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone also co-chaired the Vietnam - Laos Investment Promotion Conference to discuss measures to implement major cooperation orientations on economy, investment and trade agreed by the two sides in 2026 and the 2026-2030 period. In order to deepen the connotation of Vietnam - Laos relations to a new height of "Great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, strategic connection", Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked businesses of the two countries to contribute to renewing and supplementing these connotations in bilateral relations, especially the connotation of "strategic connection", including connecting businesses and connecting the two economies.

The 48th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee was successful, substantive and effective, with the proposal of specific measures and roadmaps. The important results of the meeting will create new momentum, contributing to promoting and deepening the Vietnam - Laos relationship according to the 16 golden words "Great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, strategic connection" that the two Parties and two countries have just agreed to upgrade during the state visit to Laos by General Secretary To Lam and his wife.

Source: https://vtv.vn/quan-he-viet-nam-lao-buoc-vao-giai-doan-gan-ket-chien-luoc-tao-xung-luc-hop-tac-moi-100251204191514348.htm