Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane on Monday talks to reporters about the upcoming state visit to Laos by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam.

Vietnamese Party General Secretary’s state visit underscores special Laos–Vietnam ties

This week’s state visit to Laos by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, reflects the longstanding tradition of high-level exchanges between the two parties and states, Laos’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Party Central Committee member, Thongsavanh Phomvihane, has said.
Speaking to Lao and Vietnamese reporters on Monday, the Foreign Minister described the visit as an important step in strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.
The visit will be To Lam’s first overseas trip following the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, when he was re-elected as the Party’s General Secretary. Scheduled for February 5-6, the visit has been given top priority by the Lao government.
Mr Thongsavanh noted that the Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith, made a state visit to Vietnam at the end of last month following the Lao Party’s 12th National Congress.
He said reciprocal visits by the top leaders of Laos and Vietnam are rare and historic, providing a vital opportunity to further elevate bilateral relations and reaffirm mutual political trust.
He added that such exchanges are part of a long-standing tradition, allowing leaders to share experiences, review outcomes, and strengthen the special relationship between the two nations. By 2026, the top leaders of both countries will have met three times, reflecting a partnership that is “unique and unparalleled in the world”.
The close relationship between Laos and Vietnam is rooted in shared revolutionary history under the Indochinese Communist Party, during which the two nations stood side by side in the struggle against colonial and imperialist forces to achieve independence.
Looking ahead, the two countries aim to elevate cooperation to new heights in line with their strategic partnership. While political and security cooperation has been successful, emphasis will now be placed on socio-economic development. This includes further enhancing ties through infrastructure, energy, transport, trade, investment, and tourism development, raising the value of bilateral trade to over US$3 billion, and developing high-quality human capital to support development efforts.
“As a key priority for Laos and Vietnam under their “one-of-a-kind” special relationship, their parties and governments will continue to focus on elevating socio-economic cooperation in trade and other sectors, noting that the current level of cooperation does not reflect the full potential.”
Mr Thongsavanh expressed the firm belief that the state visit would achieve its objectives, citing the high level of consensus among Party leaders, governments, and relevant sectors of both countries.
All parties are committed to advancing cooperation more quickly and effectively than ever before, he said.
Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith, his wife, and other senior members of the Lao Party and government made a state visit to Vietnam on January 26-27, reinforcing the strong mutual trust between the two nations.
Cooperation in foreign affairs, defence, and security continues to underpin the enduring Laos-Vietnam relationship, while new momentum in other fields is sparking closer ties in the economic, cultural, and scientific and technical spheres.

By Bounfaeng Phaymanivong
(Latest Update February 4, 2026)