General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Central Committee Tô Lâm (right) review the guard of honour on December 1. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

VIENTIANE — General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and his spouse hosted a welcome ceremony on Monday for General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Central Committee Tô Lâm, his spouse Ngô Phương Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on their state visit to Laos.

The ceremony was conducted at the Presidential Palace in Vientiane with the highest protocol reserved for a head of state.

During the visit, General Secretary Lâm is scheduled to hold talks with Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, meet Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane, visit former senior Lao leaders, and attend the 50th National Day celebration of Laos. He will also deliver a policy speech at the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, co-chair a high-level meeting between the CPV and the LPRP, and engage in other activities.

The welcome ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace in Vientiane with the highest protocol reserved for a head of state. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

On this occasion, Việt Nam and Laos are expected to sign important cooperation documents which are expected to create a legal framework and new directions for bilateral cooperation in line with each country’s development needs, further deepening the special Việt Nam–Laos relationship in the new period.

The visit takes place as both sides work to strengthen political, defence, and security cooperation, while pushing for breakthroughs in economic ties, especially major connectivity projects in transport including expressways and railways, energy, trade, investment, high-quality human resources training, and the development of resilient supply chains.

A view of the welcome ceremony for General Secretary Tô Lâm, — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

Bilateral trade reached nearly US$2.5 billion in the first ten months of 2025, up 50.4 per cent year-on-year, placing Việt Nam as Laos’ third-largest trading partner. Việt Nam currently has 274 investment projects in Laos with total registered capital exceeding $5.8 billion. Transport infrastructure projects already put into operation mark important steps toward strategic socio-economic connectivity.

Cooperation in education and training, culture, transport, energy, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges continues to expand, contributing to stronger bonds between the two peoples, especially younger generations.

Earlier the same day, upon arrival in Vientiane, General Secretary Lâm and his entourage laid a wreath at the Unknown Soldiers’ Monument to honour those who sacrificed their lives for Laos’ national liberation and development. — VNA/VNS

General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and his spouse hosted a welcome ceremony on Monday for General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Central Committee Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất