Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has underscored the importance of energy and mining cooperation as a pillar of economic ties between Vietnam and Laos.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) and Lao Minister of Energy and Mines Phosay Sayasone at their meeting on October 21 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) –ꦅ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has underscored the importance of energy and mining cooperation as a pillar of economic ties between Vietnam and Laos.
During a reception in Hanoi on October 21 for Lao Minister of Energy and Mines Phosay Sayasone, Son assured his guest that Vietnam always values and gives the highest priority to the Vietnam-Laos special relationship.
According to him, bilateral ties have been growing robustly and effectively, bolstered by political trust and regular visits by leaders. Two-way trade is estimated at 1.7 billion USD in the first 10 months of this year, on track to meet the target of a 10-15% year-on-year increase as outlined in the cooperation plan between the two Governments.
To realise the agreement between the two Politburos in September 2024 and prepare for the 47th Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee meeting, which will be co-chaired by the two PMs in early 2025, he urged both sides to perform the assigned tasks in power and coal trading, and increase bilateral investment.
Regarding cooperation in power trading, both sides need to realise the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2006. As Vietnam's electricity import capacity from Laos can exceed 5,000 MW by 2030, Son suggested that the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines provide timely reports for both Governments to consider necessary adjustments to the MoU.
He hailed the MoIT for swiftly establishing a task force for bilateral electricity trading led by a minister, which he said, demonstrates Vietnam's strong commitment to promoting this cooperation.
Affirming that coal from Laos will be one of the key input sources for electricity production in Vietnam in the coming time, he asked the MoIT and the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines to step up the negotiation and signing of an agreement on coal trade cooperation during the upcoming inter-governmental committee meeting.
Praising the partnerships between Vietnamese and Lao enterprises in the construction of the conveyor belt between the two countries, Son believed that more business partnerships for key projects will emerge, contributing to the trade and industry cooperation and the overall economic growth of both nations.
Sayasone thanked the Vietnamese Government for valuing collaboration with Laos, noting that many Vietnamese enterprises have been investing in energy and mining in Laos.
Notably, both sides have committed to a power trading capacity of 3,000 MW by 2025 and 5,000 MW by 2030. To date, Vietnam has approved the import of electricity from Laos with a total capacity of 2,939 MW, while the total capacity under signed electricity trading contracts is 2,239 MW, accounting for 74.3% of the capacity committed by 2025.
He proposed continuing with in-depth discussions at all levels so that energy and mining become key strengths in bilateral cooperation. He expressed confidence that activities in this field will become increasingly effective in the near future./.
Working delegations from the Defence Ministries of Vietnam and Laos on October 21 held a rehearsal for the second Vietnam-Laos Border Defence Friendship Exchange in Moc Chau district, the northern province of Son La, and Sop Bao district, Laos’s Houaphanh province.
With concrete results obtained, Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man’s freshly-ended official visit to Laos will surely create a new impetus for promoting Vietnam - Laos comprehensive and practical cooperation in various spheres, particularly economy, trade, and investment, on par with the sound political ties, said Chairman of the NA’s Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha.
National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man received Chairman of the Laos - Vietnam Friendship Association Boviengkham Vongdara and Vice President of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Chanphenh Soutthivong in Vientiane on October 18 as part of his official visit to the neighbouring country and attendance at the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45).
Addressing the meeting, Party General Secretary To Lam expressed his pleasure at meeting a large number of Vietnamese living and working in the RoK, acknowledging and appreciating their efforts in contributing to the growing Vietnam–RoK partnership.
He also welcomed the “Vietnam Private Sector Panorama” as a platform for dialogue, awareness-raising, and inspiring a wealth-creation movement, emphasising that it must deliver tangible results.
During a meeting on August 10 in Seoul with 100 representatives from the RoK’s intellectuals, associations, people’s organisations, businesses, and non-governmental organisations operating in Vietnam, Party General Secretary To Lam expressed his gratitude to Korean friendship, economic, cultural associations, universities, research institutes, individuals, and NGOs for their significant contributions to nurturing the Vietnam–RoK relationship.
Party General Secretary To Lam met with Chairman of the Republic of Korea (RoK)–Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul on August 10 as part of his state visit to the RoK.
The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee is scheduled to convene its 48th session on August 11-13, with August 14-15 set as a backup date, according to the NA Office.
Vietnam’s Ambassador to Brazil and Bolivia Bui Van Nghi has led an embassy delegation to attend official events marking the 200th anniversary of Bolivia’s Independence Day.
Party General Secretary To Lam met with members of the Vietnam Innovation Network in Korea (VINK) and Vietnamese experts living and working in the Republic of Korea (RoK) in Seoul on August 10 as part of his state visit to the RoK.
In an interview with Korean media on the occasion of Party General Secretary To Lam’s state visit to the RoK, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that the visit demonstrates Vietnam’s strong resolve to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the RoK, with the aim of fostering greater political trust, closer strategic coordination, more substantive and comprehensive cooperation, and stronger bonds of friendship between the two countries' people.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who is also a Politburo member and Secretary of the Government Party Committee, attended the 4th Party Congress of the EVN Party Organisation for the 2025–2030 tenure on August 10, directing EVN to ensure power supply to meet the country’s development demands with double-digit growth set for the coming years.
Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, along with a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived in Seongnam Air Base in Seoul on August 10 afternoon (local time), beginning a state visit to the Republic of Korea from August 10-13.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
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.
