Promoting strategic alignment between Vietnam and Laos in the new phase.

The visit took place at a particularly significant time, amidst the joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere in both countries following the resounding success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 12th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. General Secretary To Lam's state visit to Laos, his first overseas trip after the 14th Congress, demonstrates the highest priority and respect that the Vietnamese Party and State place on the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic linkage between the two countries. The visit also opened an opportunity for high-level leaders of both countries to exchange views and reach consensus on the direction of strengthening bilateral relations in the new context following the recently concluded Party Congresses in each country.

In the world, few bilateral relationships are as deep, loyal, pure, and enduring as the Vietnam-Laos relationship. This special bond was nurtured, matured, and strengthened during the years of war, when both nations shared hardships and struggles for independence and freedom, and together overcame difficulties in the process of national construction and development. In the process of reform and integration, the special Vietnam-Laos relationship continues to be an invaluable shared asset, a source of strength, a strategic foundation for stability and development, and a vital element for the revolutionary cause of each country. Continuing the great tradition of friendship between the two nations, the high-level leaders of the two Parties and States unanimously agreed to prioritize and strive to elevate the Vietnam-Laos relationship to a new level.

In December 2025, senior leaders of the two countries agreed to add new content to deepen and elevate bilateral relations to the level of "great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic alignment." This is a historic step in the path of cooperation, fully reflecting the scale and depth of bilateral relations, while affirming the shared vision, intertwined strategic interests, and long-term partnership of Vietnam and Laos towards sustainable development, self-reliance, and prosperity.

Over the past period, Vietnam-Laos relations have developed well. Political trust and strategic confidence continue to be strengthened and consolidated, playing a core role in guiding the overall comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. Both sides actively implement and effectively utilize existing cooperation mechanisms, especially high-level meetings between the two Parties, meetings and exchanges between the two General Secretaries, the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee sessions chaired by the two Prime Ministers, and meetings between the two Speakers of Parliament. The frequent reciprocal visits by high-level leaders of the two Parties and States in the early days of the new term are vivid and clear evidence of the special importance and high determination to deepen the Vietnam-Laos solidarity, linking the desire to elevate bilateral relations with the development aspirations of each country.

Based on a high level of political trust, cooperation between the two countries has yielded many commendable results in various fields. Economic, trade, and investment cooperation has seen positive developments, with new bright spots emerging and long-standing obstacles being resolved. Bilateral trade turnover has grown continuously for many years and will reach the 3 billion USD mark for the first time in 2025. Notably, Vietnam has sent a delegation of economic and financial experts to support and advise Laos in addressing macroeconomic difficulties. Some of Vietnam's groundbreaking experiences and policies have been adopted and applied in practice by Laos to resolve economic and financial difficulties and build an independent and self-reliant economy.

Defense and security cooperation continues to be strengthened both qualitatively and quantitatively. The two sides coordinate closely and support each other in maintaining political stability, ensuring national defense, security, and social order. Both sides continue to maintain border security, order, and peace, promoting the twinning model between border communities, contributing to building a peaceful, stable, friendly, and sustainably developing border. In addition, cooperation in culture, education, science, and technology has also achieved many practical results.

General Secretary To Lam's state visit to Laos took place immediately after the successful conclusion of the state visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and his wife. The regular high-level contact between the leaders of the two countries affirms the deep political trust and strategic ties between Vietnam and Laos – two neighboring countries with close, blood-related ties. We wish General Secretary To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation a great success in their state visit to Laos, contributing to the continued sustainable and long-term development of the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic ties between Vietnam and Laos.