Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong received Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, who was then Lao Prime Minister, in December 2020 (Photo: Tri Dung/VNA)

This is Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith’s first foreign trip as the Lao Party and State leader for the 2021-2026 term reflecting the Lao Party and State’s respect for its ties with Vietnam.

Fostering and promoting bilateral friendship

The visit embraces the Lao Revolutionary People’s Party’s determination to maintain, foster, and promote the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, and peoples. It demonstrates Laos’s consistent foreign policy of treasuring ties with Vietnam.

Over the past years, the two countries have worked closely to realize cooperative agreements.

Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Sengphet Houngboungnuang said, 'The political ties have grown in depth while solidarity and mutual trust play a vital role in mapping out directions for bilateral ties. Cooperation in national defense, security, and external relations are the major pillars, while cooperation in economics, culture, health care and technology has improved.'

The two countries have worked closely in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. They have organized online meetings to share experience in preventing and treating COVID-19. Despite numerous difficulties, Vietnam sent medical aid to Laos to help fight the disease.

The Lao National Assembly House is a gift from the Vietnamese Party, State, and people. It's a symbol of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries

Bilateral ties are tightened

Vietnam and Laos intend to enhance bilateral cooperation in politics, maintain and improve the efficiency of cooperation mechanisms, strengthen cooperation in national defense and security,  and external relations, improve the shared perception of the two Parties, States, and peoples about the strategic importance of the Laos-Vietnam special ties, and promote the education of politics and ideology through cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

The Lao Party and State leader’s visit is expected to tighten bilateral ties, said Lao Ambassador Sengphet Houngboungnuang.

'Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith will hold talks with his counterparts and meet high-ranking leaders of the Vietnamese Party, government, and National Assembly to discuss ways to boost bilateral ties. The two sides will release a joint statement and sign 6 cooperative documents,' said the Lao Ambassador.

Amid unprecedented and complicated developments in the region and the world, the two countries are determined to foster bilateral ties and work closely for the development and prosperity of their countries.