Safeguarding and nurturing the Vietnam-Laos great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation

Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith’s official visit to Vietnam from June 28-29 is the Lao leader’s first foreign trip in his new roles as Party chief and head of state. It is also the first time that Vietnam has welcomed the Lao Party and State leader since the 13th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam was held.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith at the welcoming ceremony (Photo: Duy Linh)
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith at the welcoming ceremony (Photo: Duy Linh)

The visit comes at a time when the world and region are witnessing rapid and complex developments. Peace and development are the primary trends but are facing many setbacks while the Covid-19 pandemic is exerting its negative impacts on a global scale. ASEAN continues to foster intra-regional linkage, while building the community, developing relations with its partners, and promoting its central role in the regional architecture.

Vietnam congratulates Laos on its successful organisation of the 11th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and elections of the National Assembly and provincial People’s Councils as well as the election of new Party and State leaders. The security and political situations are stable, the economy is growing, defence and security are being strengthened, and foreign relations and international integration are expanding.

As neighbouring countries, Vietnam and Laos have constantly nurtured the relationship of solidarity and loyalty, which was established by President Ho Chi Minh and Presidents Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong and safeguarded by the two countries’ leaders and people, becoming a valuable asset to the two nations.

During their struggles for national independence, the two brotherly nations stood shoulder to shoulder, shared their difficulties, and fought and walked to victory together. Entering the period of national construction and peace reinforcement, the two countries promoted the friendly relations, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

During the cause of reform, integration and development, Vietnam and Laos support each other’s development and have recorded significant achievements.

The political relationship has become increasingly close-knit and trustworthy with cooperation mechanisms being maintained and strengthened. The Vietnam-Laos relationship has been deepened to become more substantive, helping to maintain stability and development in both countries.

Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith’s official visit continues to affirm the solidarity, bond, trust, loyalty and selflessness between and the two Parties, States and peoples.

It also affirms both Vietnam and Laos’s consistent foreign policy of attaching importance to safeguarding and constantly developing bilateral ties, helping to reinforce and strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.