Hanoi – Vientiane ties set pace for bilateral cooperation
The two sides have inked two city-level agreements and eight agreements covering areas such as Party building, economic and investment cooperation, agriculture, health, education and people-to-people ties.
THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi and Vientiane reaffirmed their partnership as a core pillar of the Vietnam–Laos special relationship during a meeting on December 2, held alongside General Secretary To Lam’s state visit to Laos and the country’s 50th National Day celebrations.
Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Duy Ngoc. Photos: VNA
The talks between Hanoi Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Ngoc and his Vientiane counterpart Anouphap Tounalom highlighted the long-standing cooperation between the two capitals.
On behalf of Hanoi’s Party Committee, authorities and people, Ngoc extended congratulations to the Lao people on five decades of nation building and 40 years of renovation progress.
He said that Laos has recorded steady GDP growth, rising living standards and higher per capita income, strengthening its regional and international standing.
The two leaders agreed to intensify comprehensive cooperation across all channels and sectors, deepen existing results and expand new areas of collaboration in line with the strategic direction set by the two countries’ senior leaders.
Secretary of Vientiane Party Committee Anouphap Tounalom.
This includes joint work on infrastructure connectivity, economic linkages and people-to-people exchanges between the two capitals.
Leaders of the two cities praised the progress achieved under the 2022 to 2025 cooperation memorandum.
Hanoi and Vientiane have carried out many effective activities, projects and programs, maintained regular high-level delegation exchanges and translated strategic commitments into concrete actions.
Both have signed two city-level agreements and eight agreements between departments and sectors covering areas such as Party building, economic and investment cooperation, agriculture, health, education and people-to-people ties.
Education cooperation, scholarships, personnel training, vocational programs and agricultural and health initiatives have been expanded through workshops, experience-sharing forums and investment promotion events.
Overview of the meeting.
The two sides agreed to intensify cooperation in Party building and political system development, expand personnel training programs, strengthen education cooperation and support development projects for Vientiane.
They placed special emphasis on economic and trade collaboration, creating favorable conditions for enterprises, investors and major corporations from Hanoi to expand operations in Laos.
The two sides also discussed transport and logistics connectivity, two-way tourism, trade, agriculture, agricultural processing and support for product distribution in both capitals.
Both cities will actively implement commitments made in the Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement, the action plan for the high-level agreement between the two Politburos, the 2026 to 2030 cooperation agreement between the two capitals and agreements between relevant agencies.
Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee Anouphap Tounalom presents the Second Class Development Order to Hanoi. Photo: Xuan Tu/VNA correspondent in Laos.
They will also advance development support projects and organize activities that promote investment, trade, tourism, cultural exchanges and people-to-people links as the two countries prepare to celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2027.
Later the same day, Vientiane presented the Second Class Development Order to Hanoi in recognition of its significant contributions to cooperation between the two capitals.
Hanoi’s development support project to build the headquarters of Vientiane’s Department of Justice and People’s Procuracy, which was inaugurated in April 2024, was highlighted as a symbol of the strong friendship between the two capitals and a contribution to Vientiane’s social development.
Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Duy Ngoc receives the Second Class Development Order on behalf of the Party Committee and the authorities of Hanoi. Photo: Xuan Tu/VNA correspondent in Laos.
At the award ceremony, Ngoc said the honor is both an encouragement and a reminder of the responsibility to preserve, nurture and advance the exemplary cooperation between Hanoi and Vientiane.
He said Hanoi looks forward to continued solidarity and mutual support with the Lao Party, State, Vientiane and other Lao localities.
According to Ngoc, Hanoi is committed to further strengthening cooperation with Vientiane, especially in economic and trade relations, education and training, personnel development, health, digital transformation and people-to-people exchanges.
“These efforts aim to support the socio-economic development of both capitals, promote meaningful international integration and contribute to peace, stability and development in the region and beyond,” said Ngoc.
