The ceremony marking the 50th National Day of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic took place at That Luang Square in Vientiane. General Secretary To Lam, his spouse and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation attended the event and shared in the joy of the Lao people.

During talks with Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, the Vietnamese leader stressed that this visit once again reaffirms Viet Nam’s consistent foreign policy of according the highest priority to its special solidarity with Laos.

He emphasised that it was also an occasion for both sides to affirm their determination to build a new vision and elevate Viet Nam-Laos relations to a new height, with ever-deepening political trust, creating major breakthroughs in cooperation across all fields.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the increasingly substantive and effective development of the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos, which has made important contributions to maintaining political stability, defence and security, and socio-economic development in each country. They affirmed that this partnership is a principle of development and a decisive factor in ensuring the success of each nation’s cause of national construction and defence.

Building on the tradition of special solidarity, both sides agreed to deepen bilateral relations by adding a new component: “Great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic cohesion.” This is an affirmation of their shared vision, intertwined strategic interests, and a long-term orientation towards sustainable development, self-reliance and common prosperity for both nations.

The two leaders agreed to strengthen economic, infrastructure, banking-finance and tourism connectivity, and to implement effective measures to raise bilateral trade to 5 billion USD in the near future, aiming for 10 billion USD thereafter. This will go hand in hand with enhanced transport, energy and logistics connectivity, and increased exchange of experience in macroeconomic management and anti-corruption efforts.

They also agreed to strive for breakthroughs in cooperation in economics, culture and science-technology; to foster stronger links in transport, electricity, telecommunications and tourism; to continue improving the quality of education, training and human resource development; and to boost people-to-people exchange and cooperation between the two countries’ localities.

On this occasion, the two sides issued the Viet Nam-Laos Joint Statement, reaffirming their determination to raise strategic trust to a higher level, affirming the consistent policy of the two Parties and States to always stand side by side, support and help each other in the cause of renewal, construction, development and protection of the Fatherland.

The joint statement stressed that Viet Nam - Laos and Laos - Viet Nam relationship has always been identified as a top priority in each country's foreign policy. It is an exemplary bond of long-term strategic importance and a decisive factor in the success of each nation’s revolutionary cause.

This enduring partnership is a precious asset and a strategic foundation for stability, development, and integration. At the same time, it represents a historical imperative—a source of strength and inspiration for both countries to safeguard, enhance, and pass on to future generations.

At a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam asked the two PMs to continue directing the two sides' agencies to ensure close coordination and active implementation of the high-level commitments and agreements.

Both host and guest praised the efforts by relevant ministries in advancing and completing some notable projects that marked the visit, including the opening of the Viet Nam – Laos Friendship Park in Vientiane and the inauguration of the Friendship Hospital in Houaphanh province.

General Secretary To Lam suggested that the two sides continue reinforcing political trust, maintain high-level mutual visits and contacts, and ensure the successful organisation of the 48th Viet Nam – Laos Intergovernmental Committee meeting following the high-level meeting between the two Parties on December 2 to implement the outcomes of the high-level talks and agreements.

Key areas include strategic connectivity in development visions, spatial and infrastructure integration, economic corridors, logistics, energy, and green transition. The countries should enhance practical economic collaboration to turn it into a true pillar of the Viet Nam – Laos comprehensive cooperation, accelerate key joint projects.

Meeting with Lao National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane, General Secretary Lam suggested several measures to strengthen ties between the two NAs, including continued exchanges and sharing of experience in areas of shared concern, especially in institutional building, legal system development, supreme oversight and decision-making on significant national matters.

He underscored the need to improve institutions and policies to facilitate the realisation of high-level agreements between the two Politburos and cooperation pacts between the two Governments.

The two legislatures should also work closely in overseeing the implementation of bilateral agreements; enhance supervision of investment cooperation projects; and propose solutions to institutional and procedural obstacles, creating a favourable legal environment for businesses and localities of both countries to cooperate sustainably and for mutual benefit.

Visiting the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, Party General Secretary To Lam on December 1 delivered a policy speech, focusing on inheriting the great friendship, nurturing the special solidarity, consolidating comprehensive cooperation and strengthening Viet Nam–Laos strategic cohesion in the new period.

The Party chief stressed that Viet Nam and Laos are neighbouring countries that share ideals, aspirations and a common living and development space. Geography, he noted, forms the natural foundation of the bond between the two countries - “standing together through thick and thin”, sharing daily life, challenges and struggles.

For centuries, the peoples of the two countries have together go through great historical challenges, faced the harshness of nature to survive, suffered colonial and imperialist invasion, experienced division and oppression, and stood before the survival choice of either uniting to prevail or being defeated one by one.

According to the General Secretary, the special solidarity between Viet Nam and Laos is the only right choice — a historically inevitability of strategic survival. The two nations have realised that: “To survive and develop, we must stand together.”

General Secretary To Lam emphasised three directions for strengthening Viet Nam–Laos cohesion:

(1) Bilateral cohesion: Viet Nam and Laos should strengthen strategic cohesion in development vision; connect spaces and infrastructure, economic corridors, logistics, energy, green transition, and digital transformation.

(2) Sub-regional cohesion, especially the three Indochina countries. The closer the Viet Nam–Laos relationship, the more sustainable the solidarity of the three Indochinese countries; and the stronger the three Indochina countries stand together, the more united and strong ASEAN will be.

(3) Regional and international cohesion: As members of ASEAN and participants in various sub-regional, regional and international cooperation mechanisms, Viet Nam and Laos should maximise their complementary strengths, we not only strengthen ourselves, but also contribute to making ASEAN stronger, the Southeast Asian region more stable and developed.

During his State visit to Laos, General Secretary To Lam was honoured to be awarded the National Gold Order, the highest honour of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, in recognition of his significant contributions to strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, the two States and the peoples of Laos and Viet Nam.

General Secretary To Lam and the Lao General Secretary and President also witnessed the signing of 12 important cooperation documents between ministries, sectors, localities, and agencies of both countries; and, together with the Lao National Assembly Chairman, pressed the button to launch the e-book “50 years of relations between the Lao National Assembly and the Viet Nam National Assembly – Comprehensive Cooperation and Development (1975–2025)”.

General Secretary To Lam and his spouse, together with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, attended the inauguration of the Laos–Viet Nam Friendship Park in the capital Vientiane. This symbolic project is a cultural and spiritual gift from the Party, State and people of Viet Nam to the Party, State and people of Laos on the occasion of the 50th National Day of Laos and in celebration of the upcoming National Party Congresses of both Parties.

Strengthening cooperation between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party

In Vientiane, the High-Level Meeting between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party took place, co-chaired by General Secretary To Lam and Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith. This is the highest cooperation mechanism and has particularly important significance.

It plays a guiding role in further developing the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Viet Nam and Laos in a deeper manner, bringing practical benefits to the peoples of the two countries, contributing to peace, security and common prosperity in the region and the world.

At the meeting, General Secretary To Lam and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith informed each other about the situation of each party and country; reviewed the major and notable cooperation outcomes between the two parties and the two countries in recent times; discussed several mechanisms aimed at creating breakthroughs in bilateral cooperation in the new context; and shared a number of issues on the regional and global situation of mutual concern.

The leaders of the two parties and two states assessed that comprehensive cooperation between the two countries has made important contributions to socio-economic development, strengthened national defence and security, and maintained political stability and social order in each country.

In the context of a region and world experiencing many fluctuations, the two leaders affirmed that they will continue to enhance and deepen the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic connectivity between Viet Nam and Laos through existing practical and effective cooperation mechanisms, as well as establish and implement new mechanisms already agreed upon by the high-level leaders of both countries, thereby making a positive contribution to the realisation of each country’s development goals.

Both sides affirmed that they will continue to advance the relationship between the two parties and two countries in a deeper and more substantive manner, considering this a core pillar providing the overall strategic orientation for comprehensive Viet Nam–Laos cooperation.

They reaffirmed the consistent policy of the two parties and the two states to always stand shoulder to shoulder, support and assist each other in their respective causes of renewal, national construction, development, and safeguarding the Homeland; and affirmed that the Viet Nam–Laos relationship always remains a top priority in each country’s foreign policy. It is a model relationship of long-term strategic significance and one of the decisive factors for the success of each country’s revolutionary cause.

Both sides affirmed that they will coordinate closely on strategic issues related to security and development, while jointly preparing for the successful organisation of the national congress of each party.

The two leaders stressed and reaffirmed the strategic importance of further strengthening the pillar of cooperation in national defence, security, and foreign affairs in order to maintain political stability, security, and social order, considering this one of the important pillars of the special Viet Nam–Laos relationship.

Both sides affirmed that they will continue to maximise the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms while continuing to innovate and improve the quality of coordination across all fields.

On that basis, the two countries will consider establishing new and appropriate cooperation mechanisms aimed at further strengthening the special Viet Nam–Laos solidarity, bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries, and contributing to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

The leaders also agreed to continue timely information exchange, position consultations, close coordination, and mutual support at international and regional forums.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone highly valued the outcomes achieved in economics, trade, investment, cultural-educational, and scientific-technical cooperation between the two countries in recent times.

Regarding the economy, both sides agreed to promote cooperation in trade and investment, considering this an important pillar of the strategic connectivity between Viet Nam and Laos. The two countries will effectively implement joint statements, high-level agreements, and cooperation programmes between ministries, sectors, and localities; enhance economic connectivity and complementarity between the two economies; and actively remove obstacles and bottlenecks during implementation.

Both sides also discussed various orientations and specific measures to enhance the effectiveness of economic and trade cooperation in the coming period, placing particular emphasis on the need to create strong, breakthrough progress in economic, trade and investment development cooperation, turning this area into a strategically cohesive pillar in line with the stature of the political relationship and the potential of each country.

In addition, Viet Nam and Laos will expand cooperation between Party, State, Front and mass organisations and people’s bodies; strengthen coordination and mutual support in socio-economic development as well as in ensuring security and stability in the border areas, thereby contributing to firmly consolidating the special relationship between the two countries.

On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam visited and extended best wishes to former General Secretary and former State President of Laos Choummaly Sayasone, and former General Secretary and former State President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith.

General Secretary To Lam emphasised that Viet Nam always highly values the major achievements Laos has gained over 50 years of national construction and 40 years of renewal, and deeply appreciates the significant contributions of former leaders through different periods.

The General Secretary affirmed that Viet Nam will continue to strongly and comprehensively support Laos in its cause of renewal, socio-economic development, national protection and building; and expressed confidence that the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party will successfully organise its 12th National Congress.

He also shared his strong impression of the unity among the Lao people, the wisdom of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the strength of the Lao armed forces which he witnessed firsthand at the 50th National Day celebrations.

General Secretary To Lam shared that, during this visit, the two sides agreed to lift Viet Nam–Laos relations to the level of “Great Friendship, Special Solidarity, Comprehensive Cooperation and Strategic Cohesion”, reflecting their shared vision and long-term orientation to move forward together for the common prosperity of both nations.

The former Lao leaders stressed that Viet Nam has always been a loyal and steadfast friend, standing side by side with Laos in its most difficult periods as well as in its current process of renewal and development.

They expressed firm confidence that, under the leadership of the two Parties, the special Viet Nam–Laos solidarity will continue to grow strongly and deepen further, bringing practical benefits to the people of both countries.

The State visit to Laos, the attendance at the 50th National Day celebrations of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and the co-chairing of the high-level meeting between the two Parties by General Secretary To Lam and his spouse, together with the high-level Vietnamese delegation, were highly successful.

The visit once again affirmed Viet Nam’s consistent foreign policy of giving the highest priority to the special solidarity with Laos. It was also an opportunity for both countries to reaffirm their determination to build a new vision and elevate Viet Nam–Laos relations to a new height of development with increasingly profound trust, opening up strong breakthroughs in cooperation across all areas.