President Luong Cuong’s State visit to Laos holds great significance

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam made the above statement in a recent interview ahead of the Vietnamese State leader's visit to Laos from April 24-25.

According to the diplomat, the visit takes place amid the joyful and festive atmosphere of Laos' Boun Pi Mai New Year, adding that it will be an important diplomatic activity, vividly reflecting the tradition of the Viet Nam-Laos relations.

The visit will affirm Viet Nam's strong support for Laos' renewal process and create a new momentum and make an important contribution to deepening the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos, making it more substantive and effective in the time ahead, and bringing prosperity to their peoples, told Nguyen.

It also serves as an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on the situation of each Party and each country, as well as on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Leaders of the two nations will review the implementation of bilateral cooperation and discuss measures to further promote the Viet Nam-Laos special solidarity across various fields in the time ahead, shared the Ambassador.

To foster the bilateral ties towards a more intensive, practical and effective manner in the time ahead, Nguyen said, both countries need to maintain strong political trust, closely coordinate on strategic issues and policy directions related to each country's security and development, enhance the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms, review and propose new cooperation mechanisms, and strengthen information exchange.

Viet Nam and Laos should bolster defense and security cooperation, especially building a peaceful, friendly, and stable shared border to enhance the position and prestige of both nations in the regional and international arenas.

The Ambassador emphasized the necessity of promoting and strengthening connectivity in terms of institutions, infrastructure, finance, clean energy, renewable energy, telecommunications, tourism, and high-tech agriculture.

Although in 2024, the bilateral trade turnover surpassed the historic milestone of US$2 billion, both sides are striving to raise the trade value to US$5-10 billion in the coming years.

Nguyen also stressed the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation in science and technology, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and local-to-local linkages.

Thanks to the directions outlined for the bilateral relationship in the coming period, the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos will continue to grow stronger, noted the diplomat./.