Viet Nam, Laos to set strategic directions for next phase of cooperation

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong announced that the meeting holds special significance as it follows closely after the high-level talks between the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). It also comes at a time when both countries are reviewing the implementation of cooperation agreements for the 2021–2025 period and discussing orientations for a new, more strategic phase of collaboration.

Nguyen said that committee remains a key mechanism for implementing the recent upgraded framework of "great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion" agreed upon by the two Parties and States.

The Deputy Minister said the two sides will conduct a comprehensive assessment of cooperation outcomes across all fields over the past five years. Despite global and regional headwinds—including major-power competition, natural disasters, epidemics and the lingering impacts of COVID-19—Viet Nam and Laos have maintained stable ties and strengthened effective cooperation.

Under the close direction of the two Parties and governments, ministries, sectors and localities have coordinated flexibly and proactively. Many major projects, especially during 2024–2025, have overcome longstanding bottlenecks and accelerated progress, generating new momentum for cooperation in politics, the economy, defense, security and socio-cultural affairs.

Both sides have also organized a conference to disseminate and implement high-level agreements, contributing to strengthening their great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

Viet Nam currently has 267 investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of US$6.21 billion, of which about US$3 billion has been disbursed. Large projects in telecommunications, banking, agriculture, energy and food processing are operating effectively, generating employment and contributing to socio-economic development in both countries.

Between 2021 and 2025, the Lao Government granted investment licenses to Vietnamese projects worth US$4.3 billion. Vietnamese enterprises contribute an average of US$200 million annually to the Lao state budget through taxes and other financial obligations.

Bilateral trade has surpassed targets set by the two countries' leaders, with both sides working toward raising trade turnover to US$5 billion in the coming years. They have also expanded the use of bilateral digital payment systems, enhancing economic connectivity and facilitating trade and investment flows.

Coordination between Party committees, ministries, National Assemblies, mass organizations and localities has deepened and become more result-oriented, aligned with high-level agreements and government-to-government cooperation plans.

Looking ahead, Deputy Minister Nguyen was convinced that with strong leadership and active participation from ministries, localities and businesses on both sides, Viet Nam and Laos will continue to achieve substantive progress. He affirmed that the special relationship between the two countries will grow even more vibrant and strategic in the next phase of cooperation.

Earlier, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived in Vientiane on December 2 morning, beginning his working trip to Laos to attend a high-level meeting between the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), and to co-chair the 48th meeting of the Viet Nam–Laos Intergovernmental Committee.

At the 48th meeting, the two Government delegations will review the implementation of cooperation agreements under the 2021–2025 Viet Nam–Laos Cooperation Plan. They will also discuss cooperation orientations and tasks for the 2026–2030 period and 2026 specifically, in order to concretize conclusions reached at the recent meeting of the two Politburos./.