Government looks to create new driver for Vietnam-Laos cooperation
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a meeting with ministries and sectors on November 17 to review Vietnam-Laos cooperation and discuss preparations for the 43rd meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee slated for early December in Hanoi.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (standing) chairs the meeting (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a meeting withministries and sectors on November 17 to review Vietnam-Laos cooperation anddiscuss preparations for the 43rd meeting of the Vietnam-LaosInter-governmental Committee slated for early December in Hanoi.
PMPhuc underlined the significance of the 43rd meeting in the contextof the two countries actively preparing for their national party congresses andbuilding a socio-economic development strategic for the next period.
Hereiterated the consistent policy of giving top priority to the specialrelationship with Laos, and required ministries and sectors to activelyimplement cooperative agreements signed between the two countries, includingthose reached during the recent visits to Vietnam by the Lao Prime Minister.
TheGovernment leader also urged ministries and sectors to define the direction forbilateral cooperation in the next period and create a new driver for bilateralrelations.
Itwas reported at the meeting that ministries, sectors and localities of Vietnamand Laos have made efforts to continue implementing plans on bilateralcooperation, while supporting each other in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic andmaintaining exchanges in trade, investment, education-training and other fieldsin bilateral ties.
Ministriesand sectors reported to the PM their planned directions for cooperation withLaos in their respective fields, with stress laid on settling outstandingproblems, enhancing economic links and promoting joint work in culture,education, people-to-people exchange, especially educating young generations inthe valuable Vietnam-Laos ties.
PMPhuc instructed making the best efforts to ensure success for the 43rd meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee, particularlycompleting important documents on cooperation for signing on the occasion.Those documents include a strategy for Vietnam-Laos economic, cultural,educational, scientific and technological cooperation for 2021-2030, and anagreement on bilateral cooperation for 2021-2025.
Hesaid those documents will show the direction for the strong development of thegreat friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation betweenVietnam and Laos in the interest of people of the two countries as well as forpeace, cooperation and development in the region and the world as a whole./.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held phone talks with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith on November 10 to discuss bilateral ties and regional cooperation ahead of the 37th ASEAN Summit.
The Embassy of Vietnam in Laos on November 11 held a Vientiane meeting to exchange views and collect feedback from Vietnamese expats on four draft documents to be submitted to the 13th National Party Congress slated for earlier next year.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung, empowered by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on November 13 handed over the token of the relief aid of 1,000 tonnes of rice from the Vietnamese Government to Lao Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Chanthaphone Khammanichanh to assist flood-hit people in Savanakhet province.
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleusay Kommasith has spoken highly of the leadership role of Vietnam in its capacity as Chair of ASEAN 2020, as well as the country’s contributions to enhancing the bloc’s role on the regional and international forums.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (standing) chairs the meeting (Photo: VNA) 
