Hanoi (VNA) – General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith’s September 10-13 state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam aims to further strengthen the great friendship and special solidarity between the two nations, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh has said.

In a recent interview granted to Vietnam News Agency, the Lao diplomat emphasised that the trip looks to further consolidate the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, Governments, and people of Laos and Vietnam, offering an opportunity for the two sides to deepen mutual understanding and promote all-around cooperation, thus creating more fruitful outcomes that benefit their people.

The two sides will take the occasion to review the outcomes of their cooperation, as well as set forth key orientations for cooperation for 2025 and the following years, she said.

The top Lao leader will hold talks and meetings with leaders and former leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State; and visit several economic establishments, historical sites, and cultural landmarks in Vietnam.

Sisoulith will also meet former Vietnamese volunteer solders and experts who assisted Laos, and Lao students currently studying in Vietnam, thus reaffirming the unique, enduring, loyal, and trustworthy relationship between the two countries, which has existed for a long time and will continue to be nurtured and passed on to future generations.

Ernthavanh highlighted the fruitful development of the special relations between Vietnam and Laos, noting that despite the rapidly changing, complex, and unpredictable situations in the region and the world, under the leadership of the two countries’ Party, Government, National Assembly, and front organisations, local authorities of the two sides have proactively implemented agreements and cooperation plans, achieving practical results across spheres.

According to the ambassador, political relations havve been continously strengthened and become increasingly deep, close, and mutually trustworthy. The two sides have identified a common direction for bilateral ties, focusing on developing high-level relations; implementing agreements and outcomes from the 46th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation and annual cooperation plans of ministries, agencies, and localities in 2024; and strengthening high-level political exchanges.

Increasingly strengthened defence cooperation has contributed to maintaining political stability and peace between the two countries, she said, adding that the two sides have jointly developed a defence and security cooperation plan for the 2020-2024 period.

In terms of foreign relations, the two sides have regularly coordinated, especially through meetings, exchanges, and sharing experience in party and political system building, and socio-economic development; and supported each other at international and regional forums. Vietnam has provided advice and assistance in various areas to help Laos successfully perform its roles as 2024 Chair of ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

Economic, trade, and investment relations between the two countries continue to be encouraged. The two sides are implementing agreements reached between their Governments and during the 46th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation. Vietnam has so far invested in 256 projects worth 5.5 billion USD in Laos. Two-way trade in the first eight months of 2024 hit 1.3 billion USD. Vietnam plans to import 3,000 MW of electricity from Laos by 2025 and 5,000 MW by 2030.

Education and human resources training cooperation has been actively and effectively stepped up. The two sides are intensifying the implementation of the education cooperation agreement for the 2022-2027 period, with Vietnam providing approximately 1,000 scholarships per year to Laos to help develop human resources.

Cooperation between ministries, sectors and localities of the two countries has been strongly promoted, becoming more and more practical, she noted.

Cooperative achievements have significantly contributed to maintaining political stability, promoting socio-economic development, and providing tangible benefits to the two countries’ people.
ꦅ Additionally, the strengthening of the special Laos-Vietnam relationship, along with the increasing position and role of the two countries, has helped maintain peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. The two countries has set a bright example in international relations, the diplomat said./.