AMM-56: Vietnam, Laos coordinate closely at multilateral forums
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son had a meeting with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith in Jakarta, Indonesia on July 11 on the sideslines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-56) and related meetings.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (R) meets Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. (Photo: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son had ameeting with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasithin Jakarta, Indonesia on July 11 on the sideslines of the 56th ASEANForeign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-56) and related meetings.
The two sides expressed their delight at the finedevelopment of the two countries’ relations, reflected through regularhigh-level meetings and contacts, and the joint implementation of keycooperation projects.
They agreed to maintain close coordination and thoroughpreparations for upcoming activities, and work together towards the effectiveimplementation of cooperation fields, particularly economic diplomacy, amidstfluctuations of the regional and world economic situations.
The two ministers appreciated cooperation results betweentheir ministries; and showed their satisfaction with the outcomes of the eighthdeputy ministerial-level political consultation held in Laos in June.
An overview of the meeting (Photo: VNA)
On this occasion, Son invited the Lao Deputy Prime Ministerand Foreign Minister to visit Vietnam and co-chair the 10th ministerialpolitical consultation, expected to take place at the end of this year.
The two sides also agreed to closely coordinate with andsupport each other at multilateral forums, especially within ASEAN and theMekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms; regularly exchange views oninternational and regional issues of mutual concern.
Appreciating Laos' proactive preparation for the ASEANChairmanship Year 2024, Son emphasised that Vietnam is willing to support Laosin the preparation work and in successfully undertaking this important task./.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung on June 28 extended greetings to the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee's Commission for External Relations on the occasion of its 40th founding anniversary.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet and his Lao counterpart Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune co-chaired the 8th political consultation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in Vientiane, Laos, on June 28.
A scientific cooperation agreement was signed among the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, and the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences in Hanoi on June 30.
The editorial board of the Communist Review, the magazine of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and military-run telecom group Viettel handed over equipment serving an online journal project they co-funded to the Commission for Propaganda and Training of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee at a ceremony in Vientiane on July 5.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (R) meets Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. (Photo: VNA) 
An overview of the meeting (Photo: VNA) 
