President Luong Cuong and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Ahead of President Luong Cuong's State visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong gave an interview to the press.

- Could you please tell us about the outstanding results in cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in recent times?

Deputy Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong: The Vietnam-Laos relationship is a great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation. In recent times, despite many complicated and unpredictable developments in the world and the region, the Vietnam-Laos relationship has always been nurtured and developed by the two Parties and two countries.

Firstly, the two countries regularly exchange delegations, meet and interact at all levels, especially at high levels. Through visits and meetings in various mechanisms, the leaders of the two Parties and countries have increased trust and solidarity with each other, and reached many important strategic agreements, demonstrating their determination to consolidate the foundation of special friendship, promoting the relationship to become increasingly deeper, practical, effective and sustainable in the long term.

Second, comprehensive cooperation in all aspects between the two countries continues to be promoted and achieved many results, from politics, national defense and security, economy, culture and society, health, education as well as coordination in regional and international forums. In particular, with the attention and close direction of the leaders of the two Parties and the two countries, the implementation of agreements and declarations between the two Parties and the two countries has been actively carried out, for example, the Lao National Assembly House Project and Vung Ang Port are vivid evidence of this effective cooperation. In addition, many key project clusters have also been cleared, creating new momentum for cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.

Third, people-to-people exchanges, delegation exchanges, and visits between localities, levels, and sectors of the two countries take place regularly and closely, contributing to consolidating the solid foundation of the Vietnam-Laos friendship and demonstrating the close-knit sentiment of the people of the two countries - comrades and brothers who fought together to gain national independence in the past and build and protect the country today.

It can be said that these important and positive results are thanks to the joint efforts and determination of the two Parties and two countries over the past time. This is also a testament to the special and consistent traditional relationship between the people of Vietnam and Laos, a relationship "unique in the world" that we and our Lao friends often call each other affectionately and proudly.

- Could you please tell us the purpose and significance of President Luong Cuong's State visit to Laos?

Deputy Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong: The State visit to Laos by President Luong Cuong and the high-ranking delegation of the Party and State of Vietnam is of great significance.

This is the first State visit to Laos by President Luong Cuong, demonstrating Vietnam's high regard and priority for Laos and the determination of the leaders of the two Parties and two countries in promoting the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

The visit took place when the two Parties and two countries were resolutely implementing the Party Congress resolution and the socio-economic development plan of each country, while promoting the successful implementation of the results of the meeting between the two Politburoes, the meeting between the three leaders of the three Parties of Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia, the meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee and many other high-level agreements.

The visit will contribute to concretizing and promoting the implementation of many cooperation contents between the two countries in a more practical and effective manner in the coming time.

Lao Armed Forces participate in the second combined military parade and marching training on Le Duan Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)

The visit took place in the historic April days of 2025 - a year with many milestones in both countries, in which we celebrated the 80th anniversary of National Day, the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, and our Lao friends celebrated the 50th anniversary of National Day.

This is a meaningful visit, an opportunity for the two Parties and two countries to review the tradition of close ties, the "unique" loyal relationship, "love deeper than the Red River and the Mekong Delta" of brothers and comrades who have stood shoulder to shoulder, sharing the sweet and the bitter in the resistance war and building the country.

The visit will contribute to consolidating trust and enhancing political trust, the strength of Vietnam-Laos solidarity, and promoting to the people of the two countries, especially the young generation, the special Vietnam-Laos relationship, a priceless common asset of the two peoples, a unique model in the world.

This is an extremely solid foundation for the two countries to continue to overcome challenges and difficulties, work together to protect and develop the country, and contribute to peace, friendship, stability and development in the region and the world.

I firmly believe that the visit will be a great success, marking a new stage of development in the Vietnam-Laos relationship with proud results, ready to enter a new stage of development with trust, loyalty, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

- Thank you very much, Deputy Minister./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/cung-co-niem-tin-tang-cuong-tin-cay-chinh-tri-cua-tinh-doan-ket-viet-lao-post1034425.vnp