Standing Member of Secretariat Tran Cam Tu's official visit to Laos enhances strategic connectivity, aligns perceptions and actions
WVR - On the occasion of Politburo Member and Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu's official visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR) on April 9, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam shared with The World and Vietnam Report the significance and key focuses of the visit, particularly in promoting the "strategic connectivity" in bilateral cooperation.
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| Politburo Member and Secretariat Standing Member Tran Cam Tu with General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith during a state visit to Vietnam on January 27. (Source: VNA) |
Ambassador, could you elaborate on the significance and key contents of Politburo Member and Secretariat Standing Member Tran Cam Tu's official visit to Laos on this occasion?
At the invitation of Vilay Lakhamphong, Politburo Member and Standing Member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Politburo Member and Secretariat Standing Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tran Cam Tu will lead a high-level delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam on an official visit to the LPDR on April 9, 2026.
This is the first visit after the 14th National Party Congress of Secretariat Standing Member Tran Cam Tu, carrying significant political and diplomatic importance. It continues to symbolize the highest level of political trust and the consistent policy of Vietnam: Always prioritizing the strengthening and development of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship. Choosing Laos as the first country to visit, especially on the eve of Bun Pimay, Laos' traditional New Year, demonstrates the camaraderie, close-knit bonds, and mutual support on the path of national building and development between the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and States, particularly the affection and concern of the Standing Member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam towards the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic connection between Vietnam and Laos.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam. (Photo: Chu Van) |
The visit takes place in the context where the two Parties, States, and peoples have just successfully organized significant historical events such as the national congresses of each Party, elections for the National Assembly, and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2030 term, consolidating the high-level leadership of the Party and State, and immediately following the success of state visits by the General Secretaries of both Parties.
Therefore, the visit serves as a "strategic connectivity" step, contributing to synchronizing perceptions and actions between the two Parties and States in implementing the major orientations that have been established.
One of the most important contents of the visit is to discuss measures to concretize and deepen the cooperation agreements between the two Parties and States, especially in the field of Party building, rectification, and political system construction. This is an opportunity for both sides to exchange theories, share experiences in leadership, management, governance, and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, while promoting the central role of the political system in the new context. This is a foundational pillar, directly determining the political stability and long-term development orientation of each country.
Additionally, within the framework of the visit, both sides will review and evaluate the implementation of high-level agreements, exchange information and experiences to effectively implement the major orientations set by each Party's Congress.
Through this, both sides will summarize, draw experiences, and agree on directions to promote comprehensive cooperation, deepen the "strategic connectivity" content in Vietnam-Laos relations, especially sharing experiences in maintaining political and social stability, ensuring national defense and security, economic and social development, building an independent and self-reliant economy linked with international integration, promoting economic cooperation to become a breakthrough highlight, creating a clear qualitative shift in development linkage, particularly in infrastructure, energy, trade, and investment, creating substantive changes for economic cooperation to develop commensurately with the special political relationship between the two countries, towards sustainable development for both nations.
Moreover, the visit also opens up opportunities to strengthen cultural, educational cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, enhancing public awareness of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship, especially among the younger generation, thereby continuously nurturing the sustainable foundation for the relationship between the two countries.
It can be affirmed that the visit not only consolidates high-level political trust but also contributes to shaping major, long-term strategic directions for Vietnam-Laos relations in the new development phase.
With significant political events that have strategic implications for the development of both countries in the new phase recently, what breakthroughs does the Ambassador expect to see, clearly reflecting the "strategic connectivity" between the two Parties and countries in the future?
From the close coordination in successfully organizing the significant political events recently in both countries such as the national congresses of each Party, elections for the National Assembly, and People's Councils at all levels, and the results of high-level visits by leaders of both countries, we can see that Vietnam-Laos relations are being elevated to a new development stage, opening up many opportunities for "strategic connectivity" to realize the profound and long-term orientations of the leaders of the two Parties and countries with comprehensive, practical, unified, and synchronized action programs suitable to the potentials and strengths of each country. I believe we will witness comprehensive breakthroughs in Vietnam-Laos cooperation across all key areas.
Firstly, breakthroughs in strategic perception and action will continue to be consolidated, with political relations still playing a core role, providing overall direction, ensuring high consensus on major strategic issues. Both sides will continue to maintain regular high-level exchanges, enhance the quality of theoretical cooperation, and share national governance experiences, thereby creating unity from vision to action.
Secondly, defense – security – foreign affairs will continue to be a solid pillar, not only to protect revolutionary achievements but also to proactively respond to non-traditional security challenges. Both sides will continue to strengthen cooperation, closely coordinate to effectively implement the Protocol and annual cooperation plans between the two Ministries of Defense, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs; manage and protect peaceful, stable, and friendly borders; combat transnational crimes and non-traditional security challenges, thereby creating a solid foundation for a peaceful, stable, and sustainable development environment for each country. At the same time, both sides will continue to closely coordinate, share information, and effectively support each other at international and regional forums.
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| Party Central Committee Member, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong extends New Year wishes to Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Thirdly, I particularly expect breakthroughs in economic, trade, and investment cooperation, shifting strongly from "potential" to "reality", from "commitment" to "specific results", making the economic sector soon become a strategic connection pillar, commensurate with the stature of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship. The focus is on connecting the two economies in terms of institutions; strategic infrastructure and logistics, interconnection in energy, telecommunications, finance, tourism, and other fields; supporting Laos to play a central role in regional connectivity, while creating new growth drivers for both economies.
Fourthly, cooperation in culture – education – people will continue to be identified as the "source", the sustainable, long-term foundation of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship. Especially, cooperation in education and training, human resource development will be enhanced in quality; cultural exchanges, people-to-people exchanges will be strengthened, especially for the younger generation to ensure continuous and sustainable inheritance of the relationship between the two countries across generations.
As the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties have repeatedly affirmed, the essence of "strategic connectivity" is not only comprehensive cooperation but also companionship in all circumstances, sharing benefits, responsibilities, and future development. I am confident that in the coming phase, the relationship between the two countries will continue to create new strategic, sustainable, and profound imprints; bringing practical benefits to the people of both countries, contributing to stability, peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
The visit takes place right before the unique traditional New Year festival Bun Pimay of Laos. How does the Ambassador evaluate the cultural connection between the two nations and share a wish for the relationship between the two countries before this sacred festival?
The official visit to Laos by the Permanent Member of the Secretariat takes place right after the significant events of the two countries, at a time when the people of Laos are joyfully preparing to celebrate the traditional Bun Pimay festival of the Lao ethnic groups.
This is a special occasion in the beautiful cultural customs of Laos, not only to express gratitude and wish the best for the elderly, grandparents, parents, family, and relatives but also a time to connect the community, preserve the good traditional cultural values that have been passed down through generations, as well as to pray for peace, harmony, solidarity, prosperity, and happiness for the Lao ethnic groups.
The Vietnamese and Lao peoples share many cultural, customs, traditions, and traditional similarities, especially community values, benevolent qualities, kindness, tolerance, solidarity, and mutual support. Not only deeply connected in essence, but the two peoples also have a long-standing cultural and historical connection as well as close cooperation in the cultural field today.
Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam coordinated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Laos to successfully organize a special historical art program themed "Vietnam-Laos: A Symphony of Friendship" to celebrate the success of the 12th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; affirming Vietnam's strong, comprehensive support and companionship with the revolutionary mission of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party as well as the protection and construction of a prosperous and thriving Laos.
Additionally, in 2025, the two countries also cooperated extremely effectively in proposing that the Hin Nam No National Park of Laos be officially recognized by UNESCO as a transboundary World Natural Heritage site with Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park of Vietnam. This is the first transboundary World Heritage site between Vietnam and Laos, clearly demonstrating the joint efforts and unity of the two nations, further tightening the friendship and solidarity between the two countries.
At the same time, the two countries have also closely and effectively coordinated to complete the key cooperation project of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Park in the capital Vientiane.
Laos officially recognized the "Truong Son Road - Ho Chi Minh Trail on Lao Land" as a national historical site to acknowledge the significant contributions of the route in the national liberation struggle of the two countries, which also holds special significance, serving as a vivid testament to the enduring Vietnam-Laos solidarity in the past, present, and future. Additionally, cultural and artistic exchange activities are regularly organized on the occasion of major events in each country.
On the occasion of the Bun Pimay New Year, Buddhist calendar 2569, I would like to extend my warmest regards and best New Year wishes to the Party, State, and people of Laos. I am confident that the Vietnam-Laos relationship will continue to develop strongly, sustainably, and comprehensively across all fields.
I hope that the younger generations of both countries will deeply understand the importance and strategic significance of the special Vietnam-Laos solidarity relationship founded by the great President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane, and beloved President Souphanouvong, nurtured by the leaders of the two Parties, States, and peoples, which has become a priceless common asset of the two nations, a source of strength and the most important factor ensuring the victory of each country's revolutionary cause, so that the younger generation can inherit, preserve, protect, and continue to nurture the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic connection between Vietnam and Laos to last forever, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Thank you very much, Ambassador!
