Vietnamese, Lao foreign ministers co-chair 8th political consultation
Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith co-chaired the 8th ministerial-level political consultation in Hanoi on December 28.
Hanoi (VNA)⛦ – Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith co-chaired the 8th ministerial-levelpolitical consultation in Hanoi on December 28.
Bothsides expressed their delight at the development of the great friendship, specialsolidarity and comprehensive cooperation in various areas between the twonations. Political trust between the two Parties and countries has been furtherstrengthened via meetings and exchange of all-level delegations, especially the Laovisit by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc in August 2021 and the Vietnam visit byPresident of the Lao National Assembly Xaysomphone Phomvihane in December 2021. In the first 11 months of this year, two-way trade surpassed 1.2billion USD, up 33.6 percent annually. The two sides kept improving theefficiency of cooperation in education, training and human resource developmentand raised young generations’ awareness of the bilateral special solidarity andcomprehensive cooperation. The two ministers agreed to work closely with ministriesand agencies to effectively realise signed cooperation agreements, results ofhigh-level visits and hold celebrations for the Year of Vietnam – Laos, Laos –Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity 2022. They spoke highly of cooperation between the two foreign ministriesin line with their 2021-2025 cooperation agreement as well as annualcooperation mechanisms and other exchanges between their subordinate units.The ministers emphasised the compliance with international law andthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s central role in regional architectures. They promised to work closelytogether at regional and international forums, including maintaining ASEAN’s commonstance on the East Sea issue, actively and proactively sharing information and stancesvia all channels, helping to improve each country’s international position.
Xaysomphoneaffirmed that Laos will back Vietnam’s bid to run for a seat at the UN Human RightsCouncil for the 2023-2025 tenure and continue working closely with Mekongsub-regional cooperation mechanisms such as the Cambodia – Laos – Vietnam DevelopmentTriangle Area (CLV), the Cambodia – Laos – Myanmar – Vietnam Cooperation (CLMV)and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS). On December 29, the two ministerswill co-chair a conference reviewing the “one-stop-shop” inspection model at Lao Bao – Densavan internationalborder gate. The Lao minister will also co-chair the 31st meeting of the Vietnam – Laos borderdelegations together with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman ofthe National Boundary Commission Nguyen Minh Vu./.
Representatives of the Border Guard Command under the Ministry of Defence of Vietnam and the Border Guard Department of the General Staff of the Lao People's Army held a conference to review three years of implementing their cooperation agreement on December 11 in Huong Hoa district, the central province of Quang Tri.
The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is ready to support Laos in terms of manpower and resources as the COVID-19 pandemic has still been developing complicatedly in both countries, Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang has said.
A Lao official has highly valued Vietnam’s open foreign policy of diversification and multilateralisation of foreign relations and being a friend of all countries as seen in its support for other countries in the COVID-19 combat.
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.
At the event (Photo: VNA) 
