The evening breeze of Vientiane brushes over the Arc de Triomphe and welcomes the footsteps of neighboring friends. The newly appointed Prime Minister of Vietnam will make Laos his first visit, writing a new chapter in the traditional friendship between Laos and Vietnam with a high-level official visit. From bilateral talks to the signing of eleven cooperation documents, the two countries are pouring the friendship of mountains and rivers into a solid bridge for cross-border infrastructure and people's livelihood connectivity.

At the invitation of Laotian Prime Minister Charente Gonmasi, the newly appointed Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh hung led a delegation to pay an official visit to Laos on October 8-9, 2026, with the aim of deepening the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between Laos and Vietnam, and promoting mutual economic and trade benefits. On the afternoon of October 8th, the Prime Minister's Office of Laos held a welcoming ceremony, followed by bilateral talks between the two countries' prime ministers and delegations.

Determine the key direction of cooperation

Shalun Sai highly praised Le Minh Xing for making Laos his first visit after taking office. Both parties have reached a consensus to optimize the investment environment and facilitate Vietnamese enterprises to invest in Laos; Accelerate cross-border infrastructure projects such as the Hanoi Vientiane Expressway, Yong'an Port, cross-border railways, and oil pipelines; Expand cooperation in multiple fields including politics, national defense, science and education, economy and trade, and culture. Both sides will jointly prepare for the 2027 Political Bureau Meeting and the 49th meeting of the Laos Vietnam Cooperation Committee, launch the 2027 Laos Vietnam Unity and Friendship Year, and commemorate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

Witness the signing of 11 documents

After the talks, the two prime ministers jointly witnessed the signing of 11 cooperation documents, covering areas such as infrastructure, digital government, cybersecurity, education, finance and taxation, and local cooperation. After signing the contract, both parties held a ceremony for the transfer of the Laos digital ID card system and the launch of the Laos Vietnam Friendship University project. On the same day, Li Mingxing and his delegation laid wreaths at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier and attended a welcome dinner. Keywords: Vietnam, cross-border infrastructure, strategic partners

Strengthening bilateral strategic ties

This visit sends a strong signal of cooperation, relying on major infrastructure projects, livelihood projects, and local cooperation to expand cooperation areas, laying the foundation for the 2027 Friendship Year activities, and promoting the continuous deepening of the strategic partnership between Laos and Vietnam.Editor/Gong Ziwei