State President reaffirms close bilateral ties during meeting with Lao PM
Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone agreed to further foster political trust through the continued exchange of high-level visits, bilateral cooperation mechanisms across various sectors and the effective implementation of high-level agreements.
At the meeting between Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane on April 25. (Photo: VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) – State President Luong Cuong reiterated the Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent policy of further consolidaౠting and strengthening the great friendship and comprehensive cooperation with the Lao Party and country during ജhis meeting in Vientiane on April 25 with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.
President Cuong congratulated the Lao Party, State, and people on their political stability and positive economic growth, believing that under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) led by Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, the drastic direction of the PM, and the support of the National Assembly, the fraternal country will successfully realise the Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress, move toward a successful 12th National Party Congress, and achieve goals its 9th five-year socio-economic development plan.
He once again extended heartfelt condolences to the Lao Party, State, and people, as well as the PM and his family on the recent passing of Khamtay Siphandone, former LPRP President, former President of Laos, and father of the current PM.
Informing the host about his highly successful talks with Party General Secretary and President of Laos Sisoulith a day earlier, Cuong affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to share its development experience with Laos, particularly in streamlining organisational structures to ensure a compact, efficient, and effective apparatus at both central and local levels.
PM Siphandone warmly welcomed President Cuong on his first state visit to Laos in his new role, hailing the visit as a reflection of the special importance Vietnam attaches to the bilateral relationship.
Impressed by the remarkable and comprehensive achievements recently made by the Vietnamese Party, State, and people, he lauded these successes as a great source of encouragement and inspiration for Laos in its own cause of national construction, defence and development.
Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong (left) and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (Photo: VNA)
Both leaders agreed to further foster political trust through the continued exchange of high-level visits, bilateral cooperation mechanisms across various sectors and the effective implementation of high-level agreements, particularly the outcomes of the September 2024 meeting between the two Politburos, the meeting between the Vietnamese and Lao Party chiefs on the occasion of the February 2025 meeting between the Party General Secretaries of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, and the 47th session of the Vietnam–Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, with practical and effective solutions to innovate cooperation methods and elevate bilateral ties.
Highlighting the shared aspiration to make economic, trade, and investment cooperation a true pillar of the relationship, both sides reaffirmed their goal of achieving 5 billion USD in two-way trade in the coming years, with a targeted increase of 10–15% in 2025. They pledged joint efforts to accelerate key agreed-upon joint and connectivity projects, especially in transport and energy, such as the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway and the Vientiane – Vung Ang railway.
The two sides pledged to further strengthen the pillar of national defence - security cooperation, grounded in the common goals of building peaceful and stable nations, focusing on the joint fight against terrorism and cross-border crimes, particularly drug trafficking; as well as the search, collection and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives in Laos.
Education - training, sci-tech, healthcare, culture, and locality-to-locality and people-to-people exchanges in border areas, and awareness campaigns about the special, time - honoured bilateral relationship among the younger generation were identified as areas for enhanced collaboration.
On the occasion, Cuong called on the Lao side to continue offering all possible support to the Vietnamese community in Laos.
On global and regional issues, host and guest committed to more information sharing and mutual consultation to present an unified stance on matters of shared concern./.
Vietnam always appreciates the valuable contributions of the former Lao leaders to the special Vietnam-Laos relationship and hopes that with their prestige and extensive experience, they will continue to support and contribute ideas to further strengthening and deepening the cooperative relationship between the two Parties and countries.
President Cuong emphasised that every victory in the past struggle for national liberation as well as in the current cause of building and defending the Fatherland of Vietnam has seen the valuable support, wholehearted, righteous and effective assistance of the Party, State and people of the Lao ethnic groups, and expressed the deep gratitude of the Vietnamese Party, State and people to their Lao counterparts.
Vietnam and Laos are neighboring countries, connected by shared mountains and rivers, with a long-standing bond of solidarity between their peoples. For more than 60 years, the Party, State, and people of both nations have preserved and promoted their great friendship, special solidarity, and enhanced comprehensive cooperation.
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Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
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The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
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In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
