Vietnamese, Lao PMs co-chair 44th session of Intergovernmental Committee

During the meeting, the two PMs witnessed the signing ceremony of official documents as part of the session, along with co-operation documents between ministries, sectors, and enterprises of the two countries.

Despite being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic over recent times, joint co-operative relations have enjoyed positive developments in a substantive and effective manner.

The two sides have been able to maintain meetings and delegation exchange in all channels and regularly deploy bilateral co-operation mechanisms in various forms. Co-operation in defence, security, diplomacy, and co-ordination at both international and regional forums therefore continues to be strengthened.

Most notably, two-way trade turnover between the two countries reached US$1.3 billion in 2021, representing an increase of more than 30% over the same period from the previous year. Indeed, Vietnamese investment capital into the neighbouring country hit US$112 million, marking an annual rise of 27%.

The official visit to Vietnam by Laotian PM Viphavan is the first visit by a foreign senior leader to the nation in 2022.

Within the framework of his working visit, PM Viphavanh had a host of meetings with Vietnamese senior leaders and joined PM Chinh to launch the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Year of Friendship and Solidarity 2022.

This year has special significance for the two countries as it marks the opening of the “Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity Year 2022” on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and 45 years of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

These events are of historical significance as they represent shining milestones featuring special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.