HCMC – Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam met Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on December 1 during his first state visit to Laos as head of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
PM Sonexay expressed his pleasure in welcoming To Lam, his spouse, and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, saying the visit contributed significantly to the success of Laos’ 50th National Day celebrations. He congratulated the Vietnamese Party chief on being awarded the Golden Order, Laos’ highest honor, in recognition of his contributions to bilateral ties.
The Lao government leader also commended Vietnam’s achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, as well as the country’s successful hosting of key multilateral events in 2025, including the ASEAN Future Forum, the P4G Summit, and the UN Cybercrime Convention signing ceremony.
Offering condolences over recent storm and flood losses in Vietnam, PM Sonexay said with confidence that affected communities would soon rebuild their lives. He reaffirmed Laos’ commitment to resolving challenges faced by Vietnamese investors and improving the investment environment to facilitate major Vietnamese corporations expanding their presence in the country.
For his part, Party General Secretary To Lam congratulated Laos on its socio-economic development achievements and expressed confidence that the country would overcome current difficulties and successfully organize its 12th National Party Congress.
He emphasized that Vietnam consistently places the highest priority on strengthening its “great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation” with Laos. He highlighted the two countries’ efforts to reinforce political trust, address lingering issues in key projects, and coordinate to ensure security and social stability.
To Lam briefed the Lao Prime Minister on his earlier talks with Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, during which both sides agreed on strategic directions for deepening bilateral ties in the new development period.
Both sides praised the completion of several projects timed to coincide with this visit, including the Vietnam–Laos Friendship Park in Vientiane and the inauguration of the Friendship Hospital in Houaphanh.
The Vietnamese Party chief called for continued high-level exchanges, effective implementation of agreements, and successful organization of the 48th meeting of the Vietnam–Laos Intergovernmental Committee. He urged stronger economic cooperation, especially in connectivity, logistics, transport, energy, and green transition with a view to raising bilateral trade to US$5 billion and moving toward US$10 billion in the coming years.
Noting defense and security as a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation, To Lam proposed deeper coordination to safeguard political and social stability and to manage border affairs effectively. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to supporting Laos in human-resource development, particularly training strategic-level and key managerial officials.
He also stressed the need for enhanced communication to promote the long-standing Vietnam–Laos special relationship, especially among younger generations, along with stronger links between border provinces and key economic and security localities.
To Lam proposed that the two sides continue close coordination and mutual support at regional and international fora, deepen subregional cooperation, and uphold ASEAN unity and centrality in addressing strategic regional issues.
