Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will pay an official visit to Laos.

At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Sonexay Siphandon, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will pay an official visit to Laos, co-chair the 45th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee and close the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022, from11-12/01/2023.

This is Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's first visit to Laos in his new position and he is also the first foreign leader to officially visit Laos since Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandon was elected.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will officially visit Laos fromJanuary 11–12, 2023.

The visit took place in the context of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos continuing to develop sustainably and deepening. The two sides maintained regular high-level contacts and exchanges through all channels, especially in 2022.

In 2022, Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh officially visited Vietnam, opened the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 and co-chaired the 44th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee (January 2022); National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue officially visited Laos (May 2022); Standing member of the Secretariat Vo Van Thuong visited Laos and Standing member of the Secretariat, Vice President of Laos Bounthong Chitmany visited Vietnam (June 2022); Vice President of Laos Pany Yathotou visited Vietnam (April 2022); Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith co-chaired the Conference on Dissemination of Policies and Laws for exemplary village chiefs on both sides of the Vietnam - Laos border (December 2022); Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son officially visits Laos (April 2022)…

Notably, the two sides successfully coordinated to organize the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 with the highlight being the solemn celebration ceremony to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962) and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (July 18, 1977), along with many other meaningful activities in the capital and provinces and cities of each country.

The two sides continued to maintain and effectively promote important bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the successful organization of the 44th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee (January 2022). Defense and security cooperation continues to be a pillar in the bilateral relationship, contributing to maintaining political stability, security, and social order in each country and the border area between the two countries.

Economic, trade and investment cooperation continues to be promoted. The estimated two-way trade turnover for the whole year of 2022 is 1.63 billion, up 20% compared to 2021. Vietnam currently has 238 valid investment projects in Laos, with a total registered capital of about 5.34 billion USD, continuing to be the third largest investor in Laos.

The two sides made positive progress in implementing a number of important projects such as Xaysomboun Provincial Radio and Television Station, Dongkhamxang Finance and Accounting Academy Phase III, Khammouan Provincial Vocational School, Vietnam-Laos Friendship Park in Vientiane, People's Public Security Political School in Vientiane and a number of other works and projects.

Cooperation in education, training, culture and tourism continues to be strengthened, especially after the two countries controlled the epidemic well and reopened. The total number of Lao students studying in Vietnam is about 14,000 people at 160 educational institutions. In the first 9 months of 2022, Laos welcomed nearly 197,000 Vietnamese tourists and nearly 26,000 Lao tourists visited Vietnam.

Cooperation between localities, especially those sharing borders, continues to be strengthened, especially in infrastructure construction, health care, human resource training and development, ensuring security, order and safety in border areas. Vietnam continues to receive Lao patients for emergency treatment in Vietnam, which is highly appreciated by Laos.

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

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit will contribute to deepening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, making it more practical and effective; promoting good cooperation between the two governments of Vietnam and Laos in the new term; and enhancing good feelings, trust, attachment and understanding between senior leaders and people of the two countries.

The visit contributes to affirming Vietnam's consistent policy of valuing and prioritizing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos; and affirming Vietnam's support for Laos in Laos's reform and integration process.

During the visit, the two sides are expected to review and evaluate outstanding achievements in Vietnam-Laos relations in 2022; some key directions in 2023, coordinate to organize major events in the relations between the two countries and each country; exchange measures to strengthen foreign political cooperation; promote security and defense cooperation, coordinate to effectively implement legal documents on borders, overseas Vietnamese, etc.; promote economic - trade - investment cooperation, cultural education, support each other in economic recovery after the pandemic, promote the connection between the two economies, contribute to helping each side build an independent and self-reliant economy, effectively implement key projects, coordinate between Vietnam and Laos, as well as at regional and international forums, especially within the framework of ASEAN and Mekong sub-region cooperation.

Also during the visit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will meet with the Vietnamese community, affirming the Party and State's care, understanding and sharing with the local people, contributing to consolidating and promoting the great unity and strength of the entire nation.

The visit is expected to achieve many important results in all aspects of Vietnam-Laos cooperation, with highlights such as cooperation in security - defense, politics - diplomacy, and economy; contributing to the implementation of foreign affairs policies and tasks set out at the 13th National Party Congress; promoting foreign affairs through Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy; and practically implementing Conclusion 12-KL/TW of the Politburo on the work of overseas Vietnamese in the new situation.