Following state visits by the top leaders of the two parties and states, Tran Cam Tu’s decision to choose Laos as the first country to visit in his capacity as Standing Member of the 14th-tenure Secretariat, at a time when both countries have successfully held their party congresses and national assembly elections, and consolidated their key leadership positions, further demonstrates the profound and enduring bond between fraternal comrades.
The visit reaffirmed Viet Nam’s consistent foreign policy of giving top priority to, as well as continuously nurturing and developing, the relationship of “great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic attachment” between Viet Nam and Laos. These shared characteristics have played a crucial role in reinforcing the foundation of political trust, vividly illustrating the rare and special solidarity, strengthening bilateral ties, and providing fresh impetus for the implementation of new strategic orientations.
Taking place from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm on April 9, the working programme comprised a continuous series of important engagements. Discussions and agreements focused on further deepening orientations for bilateral relations, especially the concept of “strategic attachment” established during the state visit by Party General Secretary To Lam to Laos in December 2025 — a notion understood to reflect a high level of comprehensive and synchronised cooperation, from development vision to concrete policy.
Within the talks between Tran Cam Tu and his Lao counterpart Vilay Lakhamphong, as well as the meetings with Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, leaders of both sides expressed confidence, congratulated one another on their achievements, and conveyed sincere appreciation for the great, wholehearted, and meaningful support they have extended to each other.
The leaders underscored the need to further deepen the foundational principles underpinning the special relationship between the two parties and states, cherishing the rare and steadfast bond between their peoples. They agreed to continue sharing theoretical perspectives, information, and experience in party building, strengthening the political system, combating corruption and wastefulness, advancing socio-economic development, reforming state-owned enterprises, maintaining macroeconomic stability, ensuring national defence and security, and expanding external relations and international integration in alignment with the development needs of each country in the new period.
Building on increasingly positive developments in economic, trade, and investment cooperation, Viet Nam currently has 276 investment projects in Laos, with total registered capital of 6.21 billion USD and disbursed capital of 3.5 billion USD (accounting for 56.3% of total registered capital). In 2025 alone, newly registered investment in Laos reached 590.3 million USD, 7.5 times higher than in 2024. Many projects have proven effective, delivering tangible benefits to local communities, contributing to socio-economic development, creating jobs, increasing incomes for thousands of workers, and boosting Laos’ state budget.
Cooperation in culture, society, science and technology, as well as people-to-people exchanges, has also been strongly promoted, particularly among border localities.
All activities during the visit were highly meaningful, conducted in a spirit of empathy, sharing and friendly cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to effectively implementing existing cooperation mechanisms, maintaining high-level and multi-level exchanges in various forms, and engaging in substantive and comprehensive discussions on core issues across three main pillars: strong political trust, increasingly deep economic cooperation, and ever closer people-to-people ties.
In a warm atmosphere of friendship and cooperation, Tran Cam Tu and Lao leaders shared their determination for the two parties to lead and successfully implement resolutions of their latest party congresses and socio-economic development plans for the 2026–2030 period. Expressing their appreciation for the enduring values of the great friendship and special solidarity between the two parties, states, and peoples, the leaders emphasised the importance of closely coordinating efforts to educate younger generations to preserve and promote this invaluable shared legacy, viewing it as a strategic and long-term task in each country’s development process.
With the warm hospitality extended to the high-level Vietnamese delegation by Lao party and state leaders and the Lao people, Tran Cam Tu and his delegation successfully concluded the official visit to Laos. Throughout the visit, they received a respectful and thoughtful welcome, not only as distinguished guests but also as close comrades and brothers who have shared hardships throughout their revolutionary history and continue to accompany each other in realising the strategic goals of both parties and nations. This remains an invaluable shared asset, elevating bilateral relations to new heights in line with the interests of both countries and the broader trend of peace and development in the region.
A distinctive cultural highlight of the visit was its timing during Bunpimay, when Tran Cam Tu and the Vietnamese delegation participated in a traditional Lao wrist-tying ceremony — a widely practised cultural ritual in Lao daily life.
A distinctive cultural highlight of the visit was its timing during Bunpimay, when Tran Cam Tu and the Vietnamese delegation participated in a traditional Lao wrist-tying ceremony — a widely practised cultural ritual in Lao daily life.
During the visit, Tran Cam Tu and other party and state leaders also met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos and members of the Vietnamese community living, working, and studying in the country. Acknowledging the community’s meaningful contributions and listening to their sentiments towards the homeland, he expressed hope that they would continue to strive forward while preserving and promoting national traditions, strengthening solidarity and mutual support, educating younger generations to maintain the Vietnamese language, and building an increasingly strong and reputable community in the host society, thereby contributing to Viet Nam–Laos relations.
As they bid farewell to the capital Vientiane under the radiant glow of the setting sun and amidst the golden hues of dok-khun (golden shower) and champa blossoms — symbols of the Lao New Year — Tran Cam Tu and the high-level Vietnamese delegation concluded their official visit in an atmosphere of deep affection among close comrades and brothers, reaffirming their shared commitment to accompany each other on the path towards sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous development.
