Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of the Lao PDR, Thongloun Sisoulith (centre right), along with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, To Lam (centre left), attend the signing ceremony.
VIENTIANE: Laos and Vietnam have agreed to elevate their long-standing relations to a “Great Friendship, Special Solidarity, Comprehensive Cooperation, and Strategic Partnership”, during a state visit to Laos by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s (CPV) Central Committee, To Lam, on Dec 1-2.
The visit took place at the invitation of the Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of the Lao PDR, Thongloun Sisoulith, coinciding with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao PDR.
During the visit, the two leaders co-chaired the annual meeting of the Party’s Politburos for 2026, reaffirming the two sides’ commitment to further strengthening the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation that have long characterised Laos-Vietnam relations.
The Vietnamese leader also held talks with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and President of the National Assembly Dr Xaysomphone Phomvihane, and met with former Lao Party and State leaders.
He laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, attended the opening ceremony of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Park, and delivered a lecture at the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration.
The two leaders agreed to raise the official relationship between Laos and Vietnam to the level of a Strategic Partnership, reflecting their shared vision, deep political trust and common development aspirations.
The new status is expected to reinforce cooperation in political affairs, development strategies, infrastructure development, education, and human resource development, strengthening the foundations for sustainable growth and long-term stability in both nations.
The two sides reaffirmed their stance that political, defence and security cooperation is a core pillar of the Laos-Vietnam relationship.
They pledged to strengthen mutual trust, continue to support each other in the cause of national protection and development, and uphold the principle that the security of one country is closely linked to the security of the other.
The two Parties agreed to prevent hostile forces from using the territory of either country to undermine the other, and to enhance coordination in maintaining political stability and social order while addressing security threats, including drug trafficking and cybercrime.
They also agreed to continue the implementation of border-related agreements, aiming to create a shared boundary of peace, stability, friendship and sustainable development.
Cooperation will also continue in the search for, collection and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives during revolutionary fighting in Laos.
The two sides also made a high-level political decision to achieve a breakthrough in economic, trade, investment and infrastructure cooperation, making economic collaboration a new driving force in the elevated partnership.
The inauguration of Pier No. 3 at the Vung Ang seaport in Vietnam was noted as a significant achievement in strengthening connectivity and facilitating Laos’ access to the sea.
The two leaders agreed to expedite major cooperation projects, including the Vientiane-Vung Ang Railway, power transmission links between northern Laos and Vietnam, cooperation in coal and electricity power generation, the establishment of fuel storage facilities near their shared border, and joint mineral exploration.
They also reiterated their long-term development goals. Vietnam aims to become a developed, high-income country by 2045, while Laos is targeting middle-to-high income status by 2055, which marks the centenary of the founding of the LPRP.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to building countries that are rich, strong, democratic, just and civilised, enhancing their international roles and steadily advancing on the path to socialism in line with their respective national contexts. - Vientiane Times/ANN
