This marks the President’s first overseas trip, and Laos is the first country he will visit in his new position. The visit takes place in the context of the continued development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
Over the past years, cooperation and political ties between Vietnam and Laos have seen fine developments. It is noteworthy that the two sides have joined hands to successfully hold the Vietnam – Laos and Laos – Vietnam Year of Solidarity and Friendship, with a focus being the ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the friendship and cooperation treaty between the two countries.
Cooperation on national defence and security have continued to be consolidated, and that on economy, trade and investment maintained. Last year, the two sides launched and completed a number of projects using Vietnam’s assistance to Laos.
Also in 2022, Vietnam’s investment in Laos saw five new projects and four others adding a total of 70 million USD in their capitals, while two-way trade value reached nearly 1.7 billion USD, an increase of more than 25%. Meanwhile, cooperation on education and culture continued to enjoy attention, evidenced by Vietnam’s provision of 1,155 scholarships to Laos and the figure of about 14,000 Lao students studying in Vietnam.
Besides, cooperation between the two countries’ localities, especially those sharing the borderline, also continued to be strengthened.
The two sides have been closely coordinating and providing mutual support to each other at regional and international cooperation forums, especially within the framework of ASEAN, the UN and sub-regional mechanism.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung said President Thuong’s visit to Laos shortly after his election by the National Assembly once more demonstrates special attention and sentiments from leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State to Laos, as well as their firm determination and commitment to nurturing the relations between the two countries.
Within the framework of the visit, President Thuong and his entourage are scheduled to take a series of important activities such as talks with the top Lao leader, meetings with Lao Prime Minister and Chairman of the Lao National Assembly.
In the context of the fine development of the Vietnam – Laos relations, the visit is believed to create a new push for the bilateral cooperation and relations through all the channels and in all fields, helping realise the high-level agreements between the two Parties and countries and unceasingly consolidate and develop the relations of great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
