Prime Minister of Laos Sonexay Siphandone arrived in Hà Nội on Sunday, beginning an official visit to Việt Nam and attendance at the third ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) from June 7–9 at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng.
The visit is significant not only for bilateral relations but also for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN integration following its admission as the association’s 11th member.
The congress has brought together 600 official delegates representing more than 10 million members and farmers nationwide.
The Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone's official visit to Việt Nam from June 7-9 comes as Việt Nam–Laos relations continue to deepen across all fields, with both countries giving each other the highest priority in their foreign policies.
Following Timor-Leste's independence on May 20, 2002, the two countries established diplomatic relations on July 28, 2002. Since then, bilateral relations have continued to develop positively.
Lao Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phongsavan Sisoulat has underscored the significance of the ASEAN Future Forum 2026, touting Việt Nam’s role in bolstering the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s centrality and amplifying the bloc’s voice for peace and stability across the region and beyond.
Việt Nam's government in the new term will continue working closely with Russia to advance bilateral cooperation across all sectors, while maximising the coordinating role of the Việt Nam–Russia Intergovernmental Committee, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Gia Túc said at the talks with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Chernyshenko on June 5 (local time).
A new national steering committee will co-ordinate efforts across government ministries to clear unexploded ordnance and remediate chemical contamination left over from wartime.
Looking ahead to 2035, the official identified three key priorities for APEC: advancing free and open trade and investment; enhancing the resilience of economies and supply chains; and maximising opportunities arising from science, technology, innovation, digital transformation and green transition to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth.
According to the Lao official, the Lao Government’s Special Task Committee will work closely with its Vietnamese counterpart to develop detailed plans and promptly launch the campaign, with the aim of achieving the best possible results.
Under the theme “Shaping Our Future Together: Peace, Prosperity and People-Centred,” the forum reflects ASEAN’s key priorities. Peace remains a prerequisite for development, prosperity is a shared goal of all member states, and placing people at the centre embodies the spirit of the ASEAN Community.
Looking ahead, the Ambassador said Việt Nam and Laos will continue to work closely to uphold ASEAN’s fundamental principles, including solidarity, consensus, respect for international law and ASEAN's centrality.
Prime Minister of Thailand Anutin Charnvirakul is scheduled to pay an official visit to Việt Nam and attend the third ASEAN Future Forum from June 8 to 9.
The Government is finalising a national labour productivity improvement scheme to submit to the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat in June, which defines productivity as the engine of fast, sustainable growth.
Deputy PM Phạm Gia Túc affirmed Việt Nam's readiness and commitment to contributing actively to efforts aimed at strengthening connectivity between ASEAN and Eurasian partners for peace, stability and shared prosperity.
So far, 48 tasks have been proposed by ministries, agencies and organisations.
Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng has issued an official dispatch on continuing the delegation of authority and the reduction and simplification of administrative procedures and business conditions.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung proposed that the two sides strengthen political trust through high-level exchanges, while maintaining existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Việt Nam–Angola Intergovernmental Committee and Political Consultations between the two foreign ministries.
