Top Lao leader hosts welcome ceremony for Vietnamese State President

President Cuong's visit to Laos is taking place at a time when the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos are continuing to develop well.

State President Luong Cuong (R) and General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith review the guard of honour at the welcome ceremony on April 24 afternoon. (Photo: VNA)
State President Luong Cuong (R) and General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith review the guard of honour at the welcome ceremony on April 24 afternoon. (Photo: VNA)

Vientiane (VNA) - General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith hosted an official welcome ceremony in Vientiane on April 24 afternoon for Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong who is on a two-day state visit to Laos.

President Cuong's visit to Laos is taking place at a time when the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos are continuing to develop well. The two sides affirmed their determination to strengthen and enhance the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in the new situation, in accordance with the actual situation of each country.

In recent years, high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and States have increased meetings, regularly exchanged delegations through all channels, and people-to-people diplomacy activities have been regularly carried out for the interest of both countries, thereby consolidating the close and trustworthy political relationship.

Defense and security cooperation, one of the pillars in the relationship between the two countries, has been maintained and developed. The two sides have actively implemented the signed protocols and cooperation agreements.

welcome-ceremony.jpg
At the welcome ceremony for Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong. (Photo: VNA)

In addition, cooperation between localities, especially those along the shared border, has been strengthened, becoming more and more specific, intensive and comprehensive in all fields, ensuring security, order, and safety in the border areas of the two countries.

Economic, trade, and investment cooperation have witnessed positive changes, in which Vietnam-Laos trade turnover in 2024 reached 2.25 billion USD, an increase of 37% compared to 2023. This is the first time that trade turnover between the two countries has exceeded the 2 billion USD mark, far exceeding the target set by the two governments.

Currently, Vietnam has 267 investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of 5.63 billion USD, of which many Vietnamese investment projects are operating effectively, contributing positively to socio-economic development, creating jobs and increasing income for thousands of workers, supplementing revenue for the Lao budget, especially in the fields of telecommunications, banking, rubber planting and processing, food production and processing, and milk.

The good traditional relationship between the people of Vietnam and Laos was laid down by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Suphanouvong. It has been cultivated by generations of leaders of the two Parties, States and people of the two countries, and become invaluable assets of both nations and a common development rule of the two countries on the path of development.

The two countries upgraded their relations to the “great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation” in February 2019. This was a milestone of important historical significance, creating a new breakthrough to help the cooperative relationship between the two countries become increasingly close, innovative and developed.

The visit of President Cuong to Laos on the first days of the Lao New Year Bunpimay will create a new impetus, contributing significantly to fostering and bringing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos to a deeper, more substantial and effective level in the coming time, bringing prosperity to the people of each country. This is also a meaningful visit, an opportunity for the two Parties and two countries to review the tradition of close ties, the "unique" loyal relationship, and "love deeper than the Red River and the Mekong River" of the brothers and comrades who have stood shoulder to shoulder, sharing the sweet and bitter in the resistance war and building the country.

Immediately after the official welcoming ceremony, the two leaders held talks to discuss measures to deepen and further effectively enhance the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. They also discussed issues of mutual concern to enhance common understanding and continue to closely coordinate and effectively cooperate at international and regional forums./.

VNA

See more

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Thammasak Sethaudom, Chairman and CEO of SCG. (Photo: VNA)

PM hosts leaders of seven Thai leading corporations

In the spirit of “harmonious benefits and shared risks”, the Vietnamese Government will always accompany and create a favourable investment environment for Thai businesses to operate successfully in Vietnam.

Vietnamese President Luong Cuong (right) receives Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Hanoi on May 16. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese President welcomes Thai Prime Minister

President Luong Cuong described the resumption of the Joint Cabinet Retreat between the two countries’ PMs after a nearly-nine-year hiatus as a demonstration of both sides’ resolve to foster extensive, substantive, and effective cooperation.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (front, third from left) and his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra (front, second from left) at the business forum in Hanoi on May 16. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese, Thai PMs co-chair business forum in Hanoi

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is actively addressing obstacles faced by Thai enterprises related to taxes, electricity, digital payments, administrative procedures, and capital access.

CPV General Secretary To Lam (right) receives Prime Minister of Thailand and leader of the Pheu Thai Party Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Hanoi on May 16. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Party leader receives Thai Prime Minister

The upgrade of Vietnam - Thailand ties to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a historic milestone heralding a new chapter of the two countries’ relations and meeting their development demand in the new period, said Party General Secretary To Lam.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria and Senegal Tran Quoc Khanh (centre) in a group photo at a recent annual Ambassador's Vovinam Cup held in Senegal. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Senegal enhance cooperation across key sectors

In the first four months of 2025, Vietnam’s exports to Senegal stood at 43.43 million USD, nearly equalling the total for 2024 (43.91 million USD). Vietnam mainly exports rice, pepper, agricultural products, and components, while its imports from Senegal include raw cashew nuts, fishmeal, seafood, and cotton.

Professor Archana Upadhyay from the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India. (Photo:VNA)

Potential to promote Vietnam – Nepal trade

The Vietnam-Nepal relationship is primarily centred on religion, education, people-to-people exchange, business, trade, and investment, Upadhyay said, noting people-to-people diplomacy forms the foundation of this relationship.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) and Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra inspect the guard of honour in Hanoi on May 16. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister hosts welcome ceremony for Thai counterpart

This is the first visit to Vietnam by PM Paetongtarn since she took office, and also the first by a Thai Government leader in 11 years. Additionally, it marks the first joint cabinet meeting between the two countries’ prime ministers in 10 years.

The UN Day of Vesak celebration held at the UN headquarters in New York on May 14 (local time). (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam endorses widespread compassion, harmony, tolerance: ambassador

Vietnam has successfully hosted the 2025 UN Day of Vesak Celebrations, drawing Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers from numerous countries. Giang noted that this year’s event coincided with Vietnam’s 50th anniversary of national reunification and forthcoming 80th National Day.