This is the first State visit to Laos by President Luong Cuong in his new position, taking place in the context of the two countries actively preparing for important political events in 2025.

During the visit, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang participated in and accompanied the President in many important activities, including: (i) High-level talks between President Luong Cuong and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith; (ii) Signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation documents between the two countries; (iii) Meetings with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Lao National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane; (iv) Visiting and wishing good health to former senior leaders of the Lao Party and State; (v) Attending the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Exchange Program with the theme "Love deeper than the Red River and Mekong River"; (vi) Meeting with the Vietnamese community and representatives of Vietnamese enterprises in Laos; (vii) Visiting and working at the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos.

At the high-level talks, the two sides affirmed their commitment to effectively implementing the agreements and cooperation strategies that have been agreed upon, especially the important results from the recent meeting between the two Politburoes and the two General Secretaries as well as the 47th Meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee. The two sides agreed to implement specific measures to strive to increase bilateral trade turnover to 5 billion USD in the coming years.

Economic and trade cooperation between the two countries continues to record positive results in the context of many fluctuations in the world economy. In 2024, bilateral trade turnover reached 2.25 billion USD, an increase of 38.2% compared to 2023 - surpassing the 2 billion USD mark for the first time. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the total import-export turnover between the two countries reached nearly 1 billion USD, an increase of 105.5% over the same period last year - the highest growth rate in the past 5 years.

In particular, cooperation in the energy sector continues to be identified by both sides as a strategic pillar. The two countries are actively implementing cross-border power trading projects under the signed Intergovernmental Agreement. Vietnamese and Lao energy enterprises are also working closely to accelerate investment in the construction of power transmission systems and expand the scale of electricity imports from Laos to Vietnam, in line with the Sustainable Energy Development Strategy and national energy security of both countries.

President Luong Cuong's State visit to Laos takes place at a time when the two countries are celebrating many important historical milestones such as: the 80th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South - National Reunification and the 50th anniversary of the National Day of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. 2025 is also a year of special significance as the two Parties are actively preparing for the 14th National Party Congress of Vietnam and the 12th National Party Congress of Laos.