Laos

Chargé d’Affaires Phan Minh Chien stressed that the 14th Party National Congress is a historic political event marking a major turning point as Vietnam enters a new era of national development.

The cooperation reflects strategic progress in energy collaboration among Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, enhancing cross-border electricity trade through more effective regional energy resource management.

The Vietnamese community in Laos showed their belief that the 14th National Party Congress will usher in a new phase of development in which Vietnamese intellectual strength, both at home and abroad, is fully mobilised and harnessed for the goal of building a strong and prosperous Vietnam.

Under the agreement, payments for Lao Airlines tickets will be made through the Umoney e-wallet provided by Star Fintech. The partnership marks an important step forward in Laos’ aviation digital transformation roadmap, while helping remove long-standing monopolistic barriers in the country’s airline payment system.

Known for being one of Southeast Asia’s best kept secrets, experts said 2026 will be the year for Laos to start attracting discerning travelers. Traversed by the Mekong River, Laos features mountainous terrain, French colonial architecture and an abundance of Buddhist monasteries.

Regardless of rapid and complex changes in global and regional landscapes, Vietnam and Laos will maintain close coordination to further consolidate and preserve their rare relationship of special solidarity and trust.

Reporting on defence and security work over the past five years, he noted that despite numerous challenges, Laos has recorded significant achievements under the direct, comprehensive and resolute leadership of the LPRP, the guidance of the Central Commission for Defence–Security, the solidarity and efforts of administrations at all levels, sectors, local authorities and the Lao people, along with cooperation from strategic partners.

Political and diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Laos have continued to be strengthened and increasingly deepened, as reflected in the mutual agreement to add the notion of “strategic cohesion” to bilateral relations.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung emphasised that the Vietnam–Laos relationship is a rare example in the world of pure, faithful and enduring friendship, tested by time and continuously strengthened year-on-year.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Le Quoc Hungconveyed the warmest congratulations of the Central Public Security Party Committee, the Ministry of Public Security leadership, and the Vietnamese People’s Public Security Forces to Lakhamfong and other Lao public security leaders on the congress’s success and their election to key leadership positions for the new term.

The congress adopted the LPRP's third Political Platform, which is a key document defining the basic direction for the Party’s strategy and vision through to 2055.

Trung conveyed warm congratulations from the CPV Central Committee, the Politburo and the Secretariat to the Lao Party, State and people on the successful organisation of the 12th National Congress of the LPRP, describing it as a milestone of special political significance for Laos’s revolutionary cause.

General Secretary Lam firmly believed that, under the leadership of the LPRP Central Committee and the important role played by comrade Thongloun, the Lao Party and people would successfully fulfil the goals set out by the 12th Party Congress, building a peaceful, independent, democratic, unified and prosperous Laos.

Among its goals, Laos aims to develop an independent and self-reliant economy by capitalising on the country’s potential and advantages, thus ensuring stable, sustainable, and quality economic growth.

The Lao Government will also work to foster strong development momentum by mobilising public participation, encouraging self-reliance among citizens and businesses, and improving the quality of human resources, while building an independent and self-reliant economy capable of deeper regional and global integration.

Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union (LPRYU) Thongly Sisoulith said that the Youth and Adolescents Development Strategy, which is integrated into the 10th five-year socio-economic development plan, is a key component reflecting the Party and State’s clear orientation toward human resources development in service of the country’s sustainable development in the future.

Laos’ gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by an average of at least 6% annually. GDP per capita is targeted to reach 3,104 USD by 2030, while gross national income (GNI) per capita is projected to rise to 2,914 USD.

The 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) opened in Vientiane on the morning of January 6, setting out orientations, policies and plans for Party and national affairs in the coming period. It will also define a long-term vision to deepen the Party’s renewal policy.

The bilateral ties have long been defined as “great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation”. Introducing “strategic cohesion,” he said, represents a timely and natural evolution, reflecting new requirements placed on the bilateral ties amid rapid, complex and unpredictable changes in the global and regional landscapes.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on January 5 sent a congratulatory message to the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, extending warm wishes to its 12th National Congress and to all LPRP members and the Lao people.