New momentum for ties with neighboring countries

The visits, made at the invitations of Lao Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, will be the first official visits to Laos and Cambodia by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung since taking office.

According to Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen, the visits demonstrate the great importance and high priority that Viet Nam attaches to its relations with Laos and Cambodia.

The trips are expected to further deepen the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Viet Nam and Laos, as well as the good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability between Viet Nam and Cambodia.

Strengthening ties with Laos

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen stressed that maintaining peace and stability and strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries are particularly important amid complex and unpredictable regional and global developments.

The visits will provide an opportunity to promote the implementation of agreements and commitments reached by the senior leaders of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia, he said.

For Laos, Prime Minister Le's upcoming visit comes only days after the Lao National Assembly elected Saleumxay Kommasith as Prime Minister. It will provide an early opportunity for the two Prime Ministers to exchange views on orientations and measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the new period.

Viet Nam-Laos political relations have continued to deepen, with high-level mutual visits taking place regularly. Following the Party Congresses of the two countries, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith paid a state visit to Viet Nam, while General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam made a state visit to Laos.

The fact that the top leaders of the two Parties chose each other's country as their first overseas destination reflects the special priority that both sides attach to the bilateral relationship, Nguyen said.

Defense and security cooperation remains an important pillar of Viet Nam-Laos relations. The two sides continue to closely coordinate in maintaining political stability, ensuring security, and preserving peace and stability along their shared border.

Economic cooperation has also recorded positive progress. Two-way trade reached approximately US$3 billion in 2025, up 32 percent year on year. Viet Nam remains one of the largest foreign investors in Laos, with around 300 projects totaling approximately US$7.04 billion in registered capital.

The two countries are working to better tap their cooperation potential, particularly in infrastructure connectivity, energy, trade and investment.

Education and training cooperation and people-to-people exchanges have also been maintained, with localities, particularly border provinces, regularly organizing exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen ties between the two peoples.

Expanding cooperation with Cambodia

Regarding Cambodia, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen said political trust between the two countries has continued to be strengthened through regular high-level exchanges, notably General Secretary To Lam's state visit to Cambodia and Prime Minister Hun Manet's official visit to Viet Nam.

These exchanges have enabled the two sides to identify priority areas of cooperation and seek solutions to emerging issues, he said.

Defense and security cooperation has become increasingly substantive and effective, contributing to security and social order and helping build a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and shared development.

Economic, trade and tourism cooperation is an important driver of Viet Nam-Cambodia relations. Bilateral trade reached US$11.33 billion in 2025, up 11.7 percent year on year.

Viet Nam currently has 223 investment projects in Cambodia with total registered capital of nearly US$3.4 billion, making Cambodia the second-largest destination for Viet Nam's overseas investment.

The two sides have also continued to promote cooperation in education and training, culture and people-to-people exchanges, particularly among young people.

Creating new momentum for bilateral cooperation

With both Laos and Cambodia, Viet Nam maintains close coordination within ASEAN, the UN and Mekong sub-regional cooperation frameworks, thereby contributing to ASEAN solidarity and its central role.

The Deputy Foreign Minister said the visits are an important step in implementing the foreign policy orientations adopted at the 14th National Party Congress and the Politburo's strategic resolutions, which place high priority on relations with Laos and Cambodia.

The foremost expectation is that the Vietnamese Government will reach agreement with its Lao and Cambodian counterparts on specific measures to more effectively implement high-level agreements and commitments, particularly in areas requiring breakthroughs and tangible progress.

The visits are also expected to create fresh momentum for economic, trade and investment cooperation, as well as both hard and soft infrastructure connectivity.

Viet Nam aims to raise bilateral trade with Laos to US$10 billion and with Cambodia to US$20 billion, in line with targets set by the countries' leaders.

Cooperation in education and training, human resources development, science and technology, and other emerging areas suited to each country's development needs will also be promoted, alongside stronger people-to-people exchanges.

The visits will also serve as practical preparations for major milestones in 2027. Viet Nam and Laos will celebrate the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Viet Nam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, while Viet Nam and Cambodia will mark the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen expressed his belief that Prime Minister Hung's visits will provide new impetus for cooperation between Viet Nam and the two neighboring countries, making bilateral ties increasingly substantive and effective while contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region./.