The visit to Vietnam by Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith is a vivid demonstration of the good and deep sentiments of the Vietnam-Laos friendship.

On the morning of September 10, General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, his wife Naly Sisoulith and a high-ranking delegation of the Lao Party and State arrived in Hanoi, starting a State visit to Vietnam from September 10 to September 13, 2024, at the invitation of General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife.

Welcoming the delegation at Noi Bai International Airport were: Politburo member, Permanent member of the Secretariat Luong Cuong; Party Central Committee Secretary, Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung; Party Central Committee member, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan; Party Central Committee member, Head of the President's Office Le Khanh Hai; Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Relations Nguyen Minh Tam; Deputy Chief of the Party Central Committee's Office Le Khanh Toan; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet; Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan.

Participating in the high-ranking delegation of the Lao Party and State were Politburo members: Standing member of the Secretariat, Vice President of Laos Bounthong Chitmany; Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Chansamone Chanyalath; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Inspection Commission Khamphan Phommathat; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Public Security Vilay Lakhamphong; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Organization Commission Sisay Ludetmounsone; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith.

Also participating in the delegation were Central Party Secretaries: Vice President of the National Assembly Sounthon Xayachak; Chief of the Central Office Thongsalith Mangnomek.

Party Central Committee members: Head of the Office of the President Khemmani Pholsena, Minister of Planning and Investment Phet Phomphiphak - Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Cooperation Committee, Minister of Energy and Mines Phosay Sayasone, Head of the Central External Relations Commission Thongsavanh Phomvihane; Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Industry and Trade Malaythong Kommasith, Minister of Public Works and Transport Ngampasong Meuangmany, Acting Governor of the State Bank of Laos Vathana Dalaloy, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh, Deputy Chief of the Central Office, Assistant to General Secretary Phakham Inseng also joined the delegation.

General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith was born on November 10, 1945, in Houaphan province, Laos.

From 1987-1992, he was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. From 1993-1996, he was Minister of Labor and Social Welfare. From 1997-2001, he was a National Assembly Delegate, Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee. From 2001-2006, he was Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Planning and Investment Committee; Chairman of the Investment Management Committee; Chairman of the National Energy Commission (LNCE); National Assembly Delegate.

He was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs from June 2006 to March 2016. From April 2016 to March 2021, he was elected Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

On January 15, 2021, Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith was elected General Secretary at the 1st Session of the Central Executive Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, 11th tenure.

From March 22, 2021 to present, he was elected President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic at the 1st Session of the 9th National Assembly.

The visit to Vietnam by Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith is the second visit since the beginning of the 11th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (January 2021) and follows the State visit of Comrade To Lam as President (July 2024). This is a vivid demonstration of the good and deep feelings of the great friendship, special solidarity, closeness, loyalty and purity between the two Parties, two States and peoples of Vietnam and Laos.

The visit took place in the context that the two Parties and two countries are vigorously implementing the Resolutions of each Party and actively preparing for Party Congresses at all levels, towards the National Congress of each Party.

The Vietnam-Laos relationship is developing very well and has achieved many important achievements. The visit is one of the important milestones in the history of the relationship between the two countries, contributing to promoting the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos to new heights, increasingly going into depth, effectiveness and practicality, bringing prosperity to the people of each country./.