Vietnam, Laos aim for US$10 billion in bilateral trade by 2030

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone led a high-level Lao Government delegation to Hanoi on June 7, beginning an official visit to Vietnam and is set to attend the ASEAN Future Forum 2026 from June 7-9 at the invitation of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

Later the same day, an official welcome ceremony for Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone was held at the Government Headquarters under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. Immediately after the ceremony, the two PMs held talks.

At the talks,  the Vietnamese Government leader warmly welcomed PM Sonexay Siphandone on his official visit to Vietnam and attendance at the ASEAN Future Forum 2026. He stressed that this was PM Sonexay Siphandone’s first official foreign visit in his new term, vividly demonstrating and further deepening the Vietnam-Laos relationship of great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion.

The host leader congratulated the Lao Party, State and people on the major and comprehensive achievements they have recorded over the past five decades, particularly the accomplishments made during 40 years of national renewal and development, including maintaining political stability, ensuring national defence and security, sustaining economic growth, improving living standards and enhancing Laos’ international standing.

He affirmed that, under all circumstances, Vietnam will always stand side by side with Laos in supporting the country’s efforts to realise its strategic goals.

PM Hung also expressed profound gratitude for the wholehearted support and assistance that the Lao Party, State and people have extended to Vietnam in its nation-building and defence efforts over the years.

PM Sonexay Siphandone expressed his pleasure at returning to Hanoi on an official visit following his re-election for a new term and to attend the ASEAN Future Forum hosted by Vietnam for the second time.

He sincerely thanked the Party, Government and people of Vietnam, as well as PM Le Minh Hung personally, for the warm and fraternal reception accorded to the high-level Lao Government delegation and himself.

Congratulating Vietnam on its important achievements in recent years, particularly in socio-economic development and the expansion of foreign relations, the Lao PM expressed deep appreciation for the significant, valuable and effective support Vietnam has provided to Laos’ revolutionary cause and national development over different periods, especially support in helping stabilise fuel supplies for the Lao market in recent times.

Hos and guest reaffirmed the consistent policy of both Parties and States of attaching the highest priority to strengthening and nurturing the relationship of great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic connectivity between Vietnam and Laos.

They hailed the continued positive development of bilateral cooperation, which has become increasingly substantive, effective and in-depth. High-level and other exchanges have been maintained regularly, bilateral cooperation mechanisms have been implemented effectively, and many difficulties and obstacles arising in bilateral cooperation have been resolved in a spirit of comradeship and brotherhood.

Cooperation in defence, security, foreign affairs and coordination at regional and international forums has continued to be strengthened, while cooperation among ministries, sectors and localities of the two countries has continued to expand. In particular, Vietnamese investment in Laos reached approximately US$582 million in the first quarter of 2026, up more than 4.2 times year-on-year, bringing Vietnam’s cumulative investment in Laos to about US$6.6 billion across 289 projects.

To further elevate bilateral relations, particularly by translating Vietnam-Laos strategic connectivity into concrete cooperation at bilateral, sub-regional, regional and international levels, the two sides consented to maintain effective high-level and other exchanges, realize high-quality outcomes of senior-level agreements and the 48th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee, and create favourable conditions for the successful implementation of the 2026-2030 bilateral cooperation agreement between the two governments.

They also concurred to coordinate activities marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 2027.

Both sides agreed to continue effectively carrying out defence and security cooperation protocols and plans, boost coordination in combating transnational crime, drug-related crime and the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and support each other in maintaining political stability, social order and safety in each country and along the shared border.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung sincerely thanked the Lao side for its close coordination and effective support for Vietnamese teams searching for, recovering and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos during wartime. He expressed hope that the Lao Government would continue supporting Vietnam’s 500-day campaign to accelerate the search, recovery and identification of martyrs’ remains.

On economic cooperation, the two sides discussed measures to strengthen connectivity between their economies, shifting from friendship-based cooperation towards effective cooperation and joint development, with economic efficiency and strategic connectivity serving as the focus. Priority will be given to both hard and soft infrastructure connectivity, particularly major strategic transport projects such as the Hanoi-Vientiane expressway and the Vung Ang-Vientiane railway, while supporting Laos’ goal of becoming a regional logistics hub and enhancing its access to the sea.

The two sides agreed to effectively implement signed economic agreements and cooperation arrangements, study mechanisms and policies suited to the special nature of Vietnam-Laos relations, create a favourable and transparent investment and business environment for enterprises from both countries, and synchronously implement appropriate measures to raise bilateral trade to US$10 billion by 2030.

The two prime ministers also agreed to improve the effectiveness of cooperation in education and training, science and technology, human resource development and the training of leaders and managers at all levels; accelerate the establishment of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship University in Laos; promote cultural, sports and tourism exchanges; and expand cooperation in clean agriculture, e-commerce, digital transformation and innovation.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments and agreed to continue close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, particularly ASEAN, the United Nations and Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms. They also agreed to coordinate in maintaining ASEAN’s common position on strategic issues relating to regional peace, stability and development, including the East Sea and Mekong water resources.

Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in addressing global challenges such as climate change, cybersecurity, energy security, water security, cross-border crime and other non-traditional security challenges.

PM Sonexay Siphandone affirmed that the Lao Party and Government will continue to facilitate stable living conditions for the Vietnamese community in Laos and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses operating and investing in the country, contributing to Laos’ socio-economic development and the nurturing of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship.

He also invited PM Le Minh Hung to pay an official visit to Laos at an early date. The host leader accepted the invitation with pleasure and said he will arrange the visit at an appropriate time.

The talks took place in an atmosphere of friendship, sincerity, trust and mutual understanding. Following the talks, both PMs witnessed the exchange of four cooperation documents in the fields of transport, education, finance, ethnic affairs and religion.

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of four cooperation documents between the two countries' ministries and agencies.

These included a cooperation agreement between Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance and Laos’ Ministry of Finance for the 2026–2030 period; a memorandum of understanding between Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training and Laos’ Ministry of Education and Sports on cooperation in Lao-language teaching in Vietnam, strengthening Vietnamese-language teaching in Laos, and facilitating the enrolment of Lao students in Vietnamese boarding schools; a memorandum of understanding between the Governments of Vietnam and Laos on a transport cooperation strategy for 2026-2035; and an agreement between Vietnam’s Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and the Office of the Prime Minister of Laos on cooperation in ethnic and religious affairs for the 2026-2035 period.

Vietnam–Laos special ties remain a top foreign policy priority for both countries

The upcoming official visit to Vietnam by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his attendance at the third ASEAN Future Forum from June 7–9 will help strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic cohesion, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam.

500-day campaign helps strengthen Vietnam – Laos special relations: Lao official

The 500-day campaign to accelerate the search for, recovery and identification of fallen soldiers’ remains is not only a task of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, but also a priority for the Party, State, military and people of Laos.