Substantive bilateral cooperation contributes to realising ASEAN Community Vision

According to Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong, the presence of senior leaders from these countries shows the spirit of regional solidarity as well as Vietnam’s proactive and responsible role in boosting ASEAN cooperation.

Elevating Vietnam-Laos strategic cohesion in new era

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said the special solidarity, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos have continued to be consolidated and developed in a substantive and effective manner across all fields.

Both nations countries attach the highest importance and priority to each other, with the concept of “strategic cohesion” added to position bilateral relations in the new context.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam described Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone’s visit as particularly significant, following the success of the historic state visits by the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries earlier in 2026. The ambassador said the visit demonstrates the consistency of the two countries’ senior leaders in continuing to deepen bilateral ties and strongly translate the concept of “strategic cohesion” into practice.

Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh stressed that Vietnam and Laos share profound historical solidarity that goes beyond the framework of traditional diplomacy, becoming a bond for common development and security. She said the strategic cohesion frameworks for 2026-2030 reflect the determination of both countries to turn political commitments into tangible results, helping bolster regional resilience.

The two nation are coordinating closely on strategic infrastructure projects, including the Hanoi-Vientiane Expressway and the Vung Ang-Mu Gia-Thakhek-Vientiane railway, aimed at providing Laos with access to the sea through Vung Ang Port.

 Bilateral trade approached US$3 billion in 2025, up 32.7% compared with 2024. The two sides are also promoting local currency payments and QR code-based retail payment connectivity.

Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh expressed hope that this cooperation will not only generate economic benefits but also help safeguard the unity and resilience of the Mekong sub-region and ASEAN as a whole amid a rapidly changing world.

Fresh impetus for comprehensive and sustainable Vietnam-Cambodia cooperation

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s visit comes as both countries are actively realizing strategic directions agreed by their senior leaders.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said Vietnam-Cambodia relations continue to develop across multiple areas, while recent high-level exchanges have opened a new stage of qualitative development and provided direction for a more trusted partnership.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu said the visit will create fresh momentum for bilateral relations to continue developing in a deeper, more substantive and effective manner, contributing to peace and stability in the region.

Economic, trade and investment cooperation remains a bright spot in bilateral relations. During the four-month period  of 2026, two-way trade exceeded US$5 billion, up 8% year-on-year. Vietnam is currently Cambodia’s third-largest trading partner and second-largest export market.

In investment, Vietnam ranks fifth among foreign investors in Cambodia, with 223 valid projects and total registered capital of nearly US$3 billion. Vietnamese companies including Metfone (Viettel), THACO AGRI and Angkor Milk continue to operate effectively. Metfone was the largest taxpayer in Cambodia in 2025, contributing more than US$1.2 billion to the state budget.

Ahead of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu expressed hope that the two countries will further expand economic connectivity, develop transport infrastructure, logistics and border economies, and broaden cooperation in emerging areas such as digital transformation and the green economy.

Further enhancing Vietnam-Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

The year 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Thailand. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s visit takes place just 10 days after Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s official visit to Thailand.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung said the visit provides a clear demonstration of the Thai Government’s importance attached to and determination to further advance friendship and cooperation between the two countries following the upgrade of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2025.

According to Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Urawadee Sriphiromya, bilateral cooperation has “never been closer than it is today”. The ambassador noted that the 2026-2031 Plan of Action was carefully designed and covers all areas of cooperation to ensure the effective implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Despite global economic uncertainties, bilateral trade has surpassed US$23 billion, maintaining Thailand’s position as Vietnam’s largest trading partner in ASEAN. Thai investment in Vietnam has also risen from ninth to eighth place among foreign investors.

Ambassador Urawadee Sriphiromya said the two countries are advancing the “Three Connects” strategy, covering supply chain connectivity, connectivity between businesses and localities, and connectivity between sustainable development strategies.

The two sides are also expanding cooperation into new areas such as semiconductors, the digital economy, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), financial technology (fintech) and QR payment-enabled digital banking. Thai investors have invested about US$3 billion in renewable energy projects in Vietnam with a combined capacity of around 3,000 MW.

Vietnam, Timor-Leste expand multi-sector cooperation

As ASEAN’s 11th full member, Timor-Leste is stepping up regional integration. Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão’s visit continues the momentum in bilateral relations following Vietnam’s appointment of a resident chargé d’affaires and the opening of its embassy headquarters in Dili in April 2026.

Timor-Leste Ambassador to Vietnam João Pereira expressed pride in Vietnam’s support for his country’s development, particularly in telecommunications.

Viettel Telemor is currently the largest service provider in Timor-Leste, holding a 52% market share, covering 96% of the population and becoming the first company to deploy a 5G network in the country.

Ambassador João Pereira expressed hope that the two countries will expand cooperation in agriculture, aquaculture, mining and oil and gas. Timor-Leste also hopes to study the successful Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) model with a view to establishing a Vietnam-Timor-Leste Industrial Park (V-TIP) in Dili.

Such a model will help Timor-Leste learn from Vietnam’s industrial development experience and also create sustainable jobs and economic benefits.  Similarities in culture, beliefs and the history of national independence struggles will continue to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and bring the two communities closer together within the ASEAN family, he added.

The series of official visits by the leaders of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Timor-Leste to Vietnam in June 2026 is expected to create a distinctive diplomatic milestone.

Through increasingly substantive bilateral cooperation frameworks and dialogue platforms such as the ASEAN Future Forum, Vietnam and countries in the region are working together to develop solutions to tackling common challenges, with the goal of building a connected, resilient, sustainable and people-centred ASEAN Community.

ASEAN Future Forum 2026 to advance ASEAN community-building process

The ASEAN Future Forum 2026 (AFF 2026), scheduled to take place in Hanoi from June 9-10, is expected to generate fresh perspectives, initiatives and policy recommendations for the ASEAN community-building process, according to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong.