Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a delegation of high-ranking Vietnamese leaders paid an official visit to Laos.

At 6:20 a.m. this morning (January 11), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a delegation of high-ranking Vietnamese leaders departed for an official visit to Laos.

At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Lao PDR Sonexay Siphandon, at 6:20 a.m. this morning (January 11), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnamese leaders departed for an official visit to Laos, co-chairing the 45th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee and closing the "Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022" from January 11 - 12, 2023.

The special Vietnam - Laos relationship was founded by the great leaders of the two nations, President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong, and nurtured with the sweat and blood of many generations of leaders, soldiers and people of the two countries. It has been increasingly consolidated and constantly developed, becoming an exemplary model of loyalty, purity, steadfastness, and "one of a kind" in the relationship between nations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Laos took place in the context of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos continuing to develop sustainably and increasingly in-depth. The two sides have maintained regular high-level contacts and exchanges on all channels, especially in 2022 with visits by Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh to Vietnam, in conjunction with the opening of the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 and co-chairing the 44th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee (January 2022); National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue paid an official visit to Laos (May 2022); senior leaders of the two countries attended the Ceremony to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam diplomatic relations and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation held in the two countries last June.

Along with that, the two sides continue to promote the effectiveness of high-level bilateral cooperation mechanisms and successfully organize many meaningful activities during the "Vietnam - Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022"; effectively maintain important bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the successful organization of the 44th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee in January 2022.

During more than 2 years of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Party, State and people of the two countries have supported each other in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and developing socio-economy.

In particular, defense and security cooperation in recent times continues to be a pillar in the relationship between the two countries, contributing to maintaining political stability, security, and social order in each country and the border areas between the two countries.

Economic, trade and investment cooperation continues to be promoted. Two-way trade turnover in the first 10 months of 2022 reached more than 1.4 billion USD, up 28.2% over the same period in 2021. In 2022, trade turnover is estimated to reach 1.63 billion USD, up 20% over 2021. Vietnam currently has 217 valid investment projects in Laos, with a total registered capital of about 4.7 billion USD, continuing to be the third largest investor in Laos.

Cooperation in education, training, culture and tourism continues to be strengthened, especially after the two countries controlled the pandemic well and reopened. In the first 9 months of 2022, Laos welcomed nearly 197,000 Vietnamese tourists and nearly 26,000 Lao tourists visited Vietnam. Local cooperation, especially localities sharing borders, continues to be strengthened.

The two sides closely coordinate on regional and international issues of mutual concern and support each other at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations, ASEAN and sub-regional mechanisms.

With the spirit of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos will continue to be consolidated and raised to new heights, developing autonomously and prosperously for the people of the two countries./.