On the morning of December 3, in the capital Vientiane, Laos, Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone co-chaired the 48th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Vietnam - Laos Bilateral Cooperation.
The two Prime Ministers agreed to jointly increase strategic trust to a higher level; further strengthen cooperation in the fields of defense and security; create a strong, strategic breakthrough in economic, trade, investment and infrastructure development cooperation, with promoting the connection of the two economies, connecting infrastructure, ensuring economic security and energy security of each country; remove difficulties and barriers, ensure that cooperation programs and projects between the two countries are highly effective.
In the immediate future, in 2026, the two sides will focus on implementing well the Vietnam - Laos Joint Statements; the Agreement signed at the 48th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee; propose many strong and practical measures to continue to deepen political and diplomatic relations between the two countries; strengthen the pillar of defense - security cooperation; continue to give special priority to education - training cooperation.
The two Prime Ministers agreed to strengthen connectivity between the two economies and promote investment - trade cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. In particular, organizing meetings between leaders of the Lao Government and the Vietnamese business community; organizing inspections and reviews of Vietnamese investment projects in Laos; researching and implementing large-scale projects in Laos such as building Lao - Vietnam University, Exhibition Center.
The Lao Government creates preferential and favorable conditions for large, key projects of Vietnamese enterprises; studies and adjusts regulations on implementation time in hydropower and mineral exploitation investment in accordance with the new situation; promotes strong growth in trade turnover, strives to continue promoting the increase in trade turnover between the two countries in 2026 from 10-15% compared to 2025, soon bringing two-way trade turnover to 5 billion USD and towards 10 billion USD/year; focusing on solving difficulties, promoting the implementation of transport infrastructure connectivity; considering agriculture and rural development as one of the pillars of economic cooperation between the two countries.
The two sides continue to promote cooperation between ministries, branches, agencies and localities of the two countries; prioritize and promote the improvement of quality in education - training cooperation and human resource development. In particular, the Vietnamese Government continues to award 1,300 scholarships to Lao cadres and students to study in Vietnam; continues to send teachers to teach Vietnamese in Laos.
At the meeting, the two sides signed cooperation documents: Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the period 2026-2030; Agreement on the Cooperation Plan between the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 2026; Minutes of the 48th Session of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee; Cooperation Plan for 2026 between the Ministries of Education and Training of the two countries.
