Both sides agreed to step up cooperation in priority areas like trade, investment, economic connectivity, and digital transformation.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)
Central Committee To Lam held talks with visiting General Secretary of the Lao
People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos
Thongloun Sisoulith in Hanoi on January 26 morning, according to a report from
the Vietnam News Agency.

Sharing the common delight of the Vietnamese and Lao people
over the success of the 14th National Congress of the CPV and the 12th National
Congress of the LPRP, the two leaders briefed each other on the situation of
their respective Parties and countries, as well as the major outcomes of each Party’s
National Congress.

They held in-depth exchanges on major guidelines and
policies set out in the resolutions of the congresses, as well as the regional
and international situation, and orientations for further promoting the great
friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic
cohesion between Vietnam and Laos in the new period. They agreed that amid
rapidly evolving, complex and unpredictable international and regional
developments, it is particularly important for the two Parties and States to
continue strengthening unity, close bonds, political trust and close
coordination.

Congratulating Thongloun Sisoulith on his re-election as
Party General Secretary, General Secretary Lam appreciated his selection of
Vietnam as the first country to visit immediately after the successful
conclusion of the new-term Party Congresses of the two Parties. He affirmed
that the visit holds historic significance, vividly demonstrating the special
importance that the Lao Party, State and the General Secretary personally
attach to Vietnam–Laos relations.

He expressed his confidence that the trip would be a great
success, elevating the bilateral relations to a new height, and reaffirming the
determination of the leaders and people of the two countries to preserve and
further develop their great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive
cooperation and strategic cohesion.

The Lao leader spoke highly of the great, comprehensive and
historically significant achievements recorded by the Vietnamese people over
the past 80 years of national construction and development, particularly the
remarkable accomplishments over 40 years of Doi moi (Renewal), especially
during the term of the 13th National Congress.

He warmly congratulated the CPV on the successful
organisation of its 14th National Congress, stressing that this was a
historically significant political event in determining Vietnam’s development
path and tasks in the new period. He also extended his warm congratulations to
To Lam on being trusted by the Party to continue serving as General Secretary
of the 14th Party Central Committee, reflecting the high confidence of the
Party, State and people of Vietnam.

The top Lao leader expressed his firm belief that under the
leadership of the CPV, headed by General Secretary Lam, Vietnam will continue
to uphold its glorious traditions, successfully implement the Resolution of the
14th National Congress, and successfully realise the two 100-year goals.

General Secretary Lam also took this occasion to congratulate
the LPRP on the resounding success of its 12th National Congress, affirming
that the Congress marked a new stage in the development of the Lao revolution,
demonstrating the great strength of national unity and the steadfast pursuit of
comprehensive, principled and inheritable renewal for the goal of national
construction, defence and development. He stressed that this is a source of
pride for the Lao people and also a shared joy for Vietnam, contributing to
consolidating a firm political foundation for further strengthening and
deepening the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation
and strategic cohesion between the two countries.

General Secretary Lam reaffirmed the strong and
comprehensive support of the Vietnamese Party, State and people for Laos’s
national construction, renewal and protection cause, and showed his firm belief
that, building on the major achievements and valuable experience gained over 40
years of renewal, the Lao Party, State and people will successfully implement
the Resolution of the 12th National Congress and the 10th five-year
socio-economic development plan, successfully building a peaceful, independent,
democratic, unified and prosperous Laos along the socialist orientation.

At the talks, the two leaders affirmed that the addition of
the concept of “strategic cohesion” to the framework of the great friendship,
special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation in 2025 represents a new
development of long-term strategic significance, creating a solid political
foundation for the bilateral relations to develop in an increasingly
substantive, effective and sustainable manner, contributing to political
stability, development goals and the enhanced international standing of each
country.

The two leaders emphasised that as the two Parties have just
successfully held their new-term National Congresses, ushering in a new stage
of development with long-term strategic orientations, the continued
strengthening of strategic cohesion and the further deepening and substantive
enhancement of comprehensive cooperation is both extremely important and
urgent.

They affirmed that this is not only an objective requirement
stemming from the fundamental and long-term interests of each country, but also
a shared political responsibility of the two Parties to inherit, preserve and
promote the invaluable common asset painstakingly nurtured by generations of
leaders and people of the two countries. They agreed that in the new
development period, both sides should concretise and effectively implement
high-level agreements, with the Vietnam–Laos Joint Statement at the centre,
ensuring close linkage between strategic vision and concrete actions.

The two leaders agreed to promote the respective strengths
of each country and focus on implementing projects that meet the practical
needs of the two countries’ people and bear strong symbolic significance for
the bilateral relations, with priority given to key areas such as defence and
security to help safeguard political stability, social order and safety in each
country, and consolidate a firm, peaceful and stable environment for long-term
sustainable development.

They agreed to step up economic, trade and investment
cooperation, strive to achieve bilateral trade turnover of $10 billion,
strengthen connectivity between the two economies and transport links through
major projects such as Hanoi–Vientiane expressway and Vientiane–Vung Ang
railway. They also reached consensus on enhancing the quality and effectiveness
of cooperation in education and training, human resources development,
especially high-quality human resources. The two sides pledged to make efforts
to achieve breakthroughs and enhance collaboration effectiveness in culture,
tourism, science and technology, based on fully tapping each country’s
potential, strengths and complementarity; and expand cooperation in
telecommunications, e-government and digital transformation.

The two leaders agreed to maintain effective information
exchange and assessments of the international situation, and continue close
consultation, coordination and mutual support on international and regional
issues, and at multilateral forums.

On this occasion, Lao Party General Secretary and President
Thongloun Sisoulith respectfully invited Party General Secretary To Lam to
visit Laos again at an early date. The latter gladly accepted the invitation.

At the end of the talks, the two leaders witnessed the
exchange of cooperation documents between the two countries.

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