General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President Thongloun Sisoulith and Vietnamese State President Lương Cường reviewed the guards of honour during the welcome ceremony for the latter in Vientiane on April 24. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

VIENTIANE — General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President Thongloun Sisoulith hosted an official welcome ceremony in Vientiane on Thursday afternoon for Vietnamese State President Lương Cường who is on a two-day state visit to Laos.

President Cường's visit to Laos is taking place at a time when the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Việt Nam and Laos are continuing to develop well. The two sides affirmed their determination to strengthen and enhance the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Việt Nam and Laos in the new situation, in accordance with the actual situation of each country.

In recent years, high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and States have increased meetings, regularly exchanged delegations through all channels, and people-to-people diplomacy activities have been regularly carried out for the interest of both countries, thereby consolidating the close and trustworthy political relationship.

Defence and security cooperation, one of the pillars in the relationship between the two countries, has been maintained and developed. The two sides have actively implemented the signed protocols and cooperation agreements.

Vientiane children present flowers to President Lương Cường. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

In addition, cooperation between localities, especially those along the shared border, has been strengthened, becoming more and more specific, intensive and comprehensive in all fields, ensuring security, order, and safety in the border areas of the two countries.

Economic, trade, and investment cooperation have witnessed positive changes, in which Việt Nam-Laos trade turnover in 2024 reached US$2.25 billion, an increase of 37 per cent compared to 2023. This is the first time that trade turnover between the two countries has exceeded the $2 billion mark, far exceeding the target set by the two governments.

Currently, Việt Nam has 267 investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of $5.63 billion, of which many Vietnamese investment projects are operating effectively, contributing positively to socio-economic development, creating jobs and increasing income for thousands of workers, supplementing revenue for the Lao budget, especially in the fields of telecommunications, banking, rubber planting and processing, food production and processing, and milk.

The good traditional relationship between the people of Việt Nam and Laos was laid down by President Hồ Chí Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Suphanouvong. It has been cultivated by generations of leaders of the two Parties, States and people of the two countries, and become invaluable assets of both nations and a common development rule of the two countries on the path of development.

The two countries upgraded their relations to the “great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation” in February 2019. This was a milestone of important historical significance, creating a new breakthrough to help the cooperative relationship between the two countries become increasingly close, innovative and developed.

President Lương Cường and General Secretary, President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith stand on the ceremonial platform as the military band plays the national anthems of both countries. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

The visit of President Cường to Laos on the first days of the Lao New Year Bunpimay will create a new impetus, contributing significantly to fostering and bringing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Việt Nam and Laos to a deeper, more substantial and effective level in the coming time, bringing prosperity to the people of each country. This is also a meaningful visit, an opportunity for the two Parties and two countries to review the tradition of close ties, the "unique" loyal relationship, and "love deeper than the Red River and the Mekong River" of the brothers and comrades who have stood shoulder to shoulder, sharing the sweet and bitter in the resistance war and building the country.

Immediately after the official welcoming ceremony, the two leaders held talks to discuss measures to deepen and further effectively enhance the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. They also discussed issues of mutual concern to enhance common understanding and continue to closely coordinate and effectively cooperate at international and regional forums. — VNA/VNS