The trip is taking place at the invitation of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.
This is the first overseas trip by a key Vietnamese leader in 2025, reaffirming Vietnam's consistent policy of valuing and prioritising its great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos.
The visit takes place in the context when Vietnam-Laos relations have been strengthening and positively developed.
The bilateral political ties have been further tightened and more trustworthy through regular exchanges of high-level delegations.
In 2024, both sides successfully held high-level meetings between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the 46th session of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee.
The bilateral economic, trade, and investment cooperation has seen positive progresses. The signing of a memorandum on development and connection of border trade infrastructure between Vietnam and Laos, along with the effective implementation of the Vietnam-Laos Border Trade Agreement, has facilitated enterprises and citizens in both countries.
As a result, the two-way trade in the first ten months of 2024 reached over 1.7 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 28.2%. The total trade turnover for 2024 is expected to have reached 2 billion USD.
Vietnam remains the third-largest investor in Laos, with 241 active investment projects totalling approximately 5.5 billion USD.
Defence and security cooperation continues to be maintained and developed, with signed protocols and agreements being actively implemented.
Cooperation on cultural and education-training is also being promoted. Both sides are closely coordinating to implement Vietnam-funded official development assistance (ODA) projects in Laos.
Cooperation between localities in both countries, especially those sharing a border, is becoming increasingly deep and more comprehensive.
Vietnam and Laos enhance mutual support at regional and international forums, particularly within ASEAN, the United Nations, and Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.
Vietnam supported Laos in successfully assuming its roles as ASEAN Chair and Chair of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2024. Laos was one of the first countries to support Vietnam's re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term 2026-2028.
The visit by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh aims to continue implementing the foreign policy outlined at the 13th Party Congress, contributing to enhancing foreign relations across three channels: party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy.
The 47th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee and its related activities provide an opportunity for both sides to discuss measures to strengthen political ties; promote defines-security cooperation; boost economic, trade, and investment links; and enhance coordination at multilateral forums.
This visit will also help both sides to prepare well for significant national holidays and events in each country while demonstrating Vietnamese Party and State’s care for the Vietnamese community in Laos, thereby contributing to strengthening the national great unity bloc.
May Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Laos and co-chairing of the 47th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee be a great success, contributing to further enhancing trust and bonds between senior leaders of both countries, while also promoting the development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos and affirming Vietnam's support for Laos' reform and integration process.
