Prime Minister starts working visit to Laos
VGP - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his entourage left Ha Noi on Thursday morning for Vientiane, Laos to co-chair the 47th meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh
The tour takes place from January 9-10 at the invitation of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.
Pham is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; Minister of Planning and Investment and Chairman of the Viet Nam - Laos Cooperation Committee Nguyen Chi Dung; Minister, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, and Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, among others.
This is the first overseas tour by a key Vietnamese leader in 2025, reaffirming Viet Nam's top priority to the enhancement of relations with Laos in the new context.
The two-way trade turnover between Viet Nam and Laos was estimated at US$2 billion in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of 28 percent.
Viet Nam has 241 active investment projects in Laos, with a total registered capital of around US$5.5 billion, making Viet Nam the third largest foreign investor in Laos after China and Thailand.
Both sides are working closely together to carry out Viet Nam's ODA aid projects for Laos and have finalized procedures for the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Park project.
The two countries have maintained mutual support at regional and international forums, particularly within ASEAN, the United Nations, and the Mekong Subregion cooperation mechanisms.
Last year, Viet Nam supported Laos to successfully assume the role of ASEAN Chair and AIPA 2024. Laos was one of the first countries to support Viet Nam's bid to win a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term./.
