On the morning of October 3, at the Government Headquarters, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Chí Dũng chaired a meeting with ministries, sectors, agencies, localities, and enterprises to review the implementation of Viet Nam–Lao cooperation projects.

The meeting was attended by leaders and representatives of ministries and agencies including Finance; Industry and Trade; Construction; Foreign Affairs; National Defence; Public Security; Culture, Sports and Tourism; the Government Office; the Vietnam Development Bank, as well as representatives from several localities such as Hà Tĩnh and Nghệ An, and enterprises including the Vietnam National Chemical Group and the Vietnam Electricity Group.

According to a report by the Ministry of Finance, the implementation of the Agreement on the Viet Nam–Lao Cooperation Plan during the first eight months of 2025 has met its set objectives and achieved many important results. In particular, a number of key cooperation contents between the two sides have been comprehensively addressed, several difficulties and bottlenecks have been resolved, and positive outcomes have been recorded across various fields, including diplomacy, national defence and security, human resource training, economy, and trade.

Notably, Vietnamese investment in Laos has shown positive developments and is on track to recover with a more sustainable trend. In the first eight months of 2025, newly registered investment capital in Laos reached USD 322 million, six times higher than the same period in 2024, mainly concentrated in the fields of energy, mining, and transport services. To date, Vietnamese enterprises have invested in 274 projects in Laos, with total registered capital of USD 5.82 billion and implemented capital of approximately USD 3 billion. Many of these projects are operating effectively.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested relevant ministries and agencies to accelerate and proactively implement projects, thereby continuing to contribute to strengthening the close and special Viet Nam–Lao relationship.

Projects using Vietnamese aid capital for Laos have, in general, met the required progress. Project owners on both sides have made concerted efforts to coordinate implementation, with many projects already completed, handed over, and put into operation.

Among the projects funded by aid from the Government of Viet Nam to the Government of Laos, two projects are targeted for completion in 2025. Of the five projects currently under implementation, four are expected to be completed in 2026, while one has already been completed.

Regarding the four projects under preparation, three are expected to be completed during the period from 2027 to 2029, and one project is targeted for completion in 2026. In addition, the two sides are actively exchanging information to complete procedures and submit reports to competent authorities for approval of three projects in the investment preparation stage.

Emphasizing the consistent policy and stance of the Party and the State, as well as the Government’s direction to consolidate and strengthen cooperation and support Laos in implementing projects faster, more robustly, and more effectively, the Deputy Prime Minister urged relevant ministries and agencies to make every possible effort, thereby continuing to nurture and deepen the special relationship between Viet Nam and Laos.

“The overall spirit is that tasks already done well must be done even better, while tasks not yet done well require agencies to focus leadership and direction, pay closer attention, and put forward concrete solutions,” the Deputy Prime Minister stressed, while commending several ministries and sectors—such as the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism—for their effective performance and proactive, swift implementation of projects.