Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh: General Secretary To Lam's visit to Laos holds significant strategic importance
WVR - General Secretary To Lam is leading a high-level Vietnamese delegation on a state visit to Laos, from February 5-6, at the invitation of Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of Laos.
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| Laotian Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh. (Source: Lao Embassy in Vietnam) |
This is a significant political and diplomatic event at the beginning of 2026, taking place as both parties of the two countries have just successfully held their congresses. Laos successfully organized the 12th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party from January 6-8, while Vietnam held the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam from January 19-23.
The visit of General Secretary To Lam to Laos will contribute to strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic connection between the two parties, states, and peoples of Vietnam and Laos. It will also provide new momentum for bilateral cooperation in the new development phase.
The state visit of General Secretary To Lam to Laos is expected to include key activities such as meetings with Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR, and other important leaders of the Lao Party and State. This is an opportunity for both sides to extensively discuss the direction of bilateral cooperation in political, economic, security, defense, cultural, and social fields.
Both sides will also discuss economic cooperation, continuing to promote the implementation of strategic economic cooperation agreements between the two countries, including important infrastructure connectivity projects such as roadways and border trade connections. Additionally, they are expected to discuss enhancing trade and investment links in line with each country's sustainable development strategy.
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| General Secretary To Lam and General Secretary, President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith co-chaired the high-level meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, December 2025. (Source: VNA) |
Furthermore, the two sides will discuss regional cooperation issues, including coordination within the Mekong sub-region cooperation framework and other multilateral mechanisms.
This visit by General Secretary To Lam holds significant strategic importance as Southeast Asia faces new challenges in security, development, and increasingly deep economic integration. It is an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to continue close coordination between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party both bilaterally and internationally.
Regarding economic cooperation, the two sides will continue to facilitate the development of trade and value chain connectivity between the two countries and within the region. At the recent meeting between the Lao and Vietnamese governments, both sides agreed to strive for an annual bilateral trade growth of about 10-15%, while expanding cooperation in areas such as infrastructure connectivity, supply chain development, and business support.
Bilateral trade turnover in 2025 reached USD 2.6 billion, indicating strong growth in recent years. The two countries are striving to raise the total bilateral trade turnover to around USD 5 billion in the near future, with a long-term goal of USD 10 billion.
After the visit to Laos, General Secretary To Lam is expected to continue his visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia on February 6, aiming to strengthen strategic cooperation in Southeast Asia.
Overall, the official visit of General Secretary To Lam to the Lao PDR marks a new development phase in Vietnam-Laos relations, emphasizing the profound political determination between the two countries and opening opportunities for substantive and sustainable cooperation in many strategic areas.
