Leaders of Hà Nội Capital and Vientiane Capital (Lao PDR) agreed to step up connectivity in investment and trade, while expanding cooperation into new areas and effectively implementing strategic linkage orientations set forth by the senior leaders of the two countries.

On December 2, 2025, Mr. Nguyễn Duy Ngọc, Politburo Member and Secretary of the Hà Nội Party Committee, held talks with Mr. Anouphap Tounalom, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee, and Chairman of the People’s Council of Vientiane Capital (Lao PDR).

The meeting took place within the framework of the State visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic by General Secretary Tô Lâm, together with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, and his attendance at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Day of the Lao PDR.

At the meeting, Hà Nội Party Secretary Nguyễn Duy Ngọc congratulated the Party, State, and fraternal people of Laos on their historic achievements over 50 years of nation-building and 40 years of renovation, particularly the maintenance of stable GDP growth, the continuous improvement of people’s living standards, and the markedly enhanced international standing of Laos.

Emphasizing that Hà Nội and Vientiane have achieved many positive cooperation outcomes, the leaders of the two capitals reaffirmed the great friendship and special solidarity between Viet Nam and Laos, stressing that both sides always value and cherish the tradition of profound cooperation nurtured over many generations. This tradition serves as a foundation for strategic local-level cooperation, playing a key role in the overall relationship between the two countries.

In recent years, Viet Nam and Laos have recorded notable achievements in trade and investment. Total bilateral trade turnover from 2022 to the present has reached nearly USD 8 billion (averaging about USD 1.8 billion per year), 1.6 times higher than the previous period and far exceeding the annual growth target of 10–15% set by the senior leaders of both countries. Vietnamese investment in Laos has been rebounding with a more sustainable trend, maintaining its position as the third-largest source of foreign investment in Laos, after China and Thailand.

Within this broader context, Hà Nội and Vientiane have also made significant progress in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation for the 2022–2025 period. The two capitals have closely coordinated to organize numerous effective cooperation programs and projects; maintained annual exchanges of high-level delegations; and concretized strategic cooperation contents through two city-level agreements and eight agreements at the departmental level, covering Party building, economy, investment, agriculture, healthcare, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

Mr. Anouphap Tounalom concurred with Hà Nội’s leadership on the need to further strengthen strategic cooperation and consolidate comprehensive relations across all channels and sectors. He also agreed to intensify trade and investment linkages with Hà Nội in the coming period.

The two capitals expressed their determination to deepen the achievements attained to date, while proactively expanding cooperation into new areas and effectively implementing strategic linkage orientations set by the senior leaders of the two countries—particularly in infrastructure connectivity, economic linkages, and people-to-people exchanges.

Cooperation activities in education and training, scholarships, cadre training, agriculture, and healthcare, along with experience-sharing forums and investment promotion conferences, have been actively organized and delivered tangible results, clearly reflecting the spirit of comprehensive cooperation, mutual support, and shared development between Hà Nội and Vientiane.

Looking ahead, the two sides agreed to continue strengthening strategic cooperation in Party building and political system development; expand cadre training programs and educational cooperation; and effectively implement projects supporting the economic development of Vientiane Capital.

In particular, the two sides will promote economic and trade cooperation and organize investment connectivity, tourism, and people-to-people exchange activities on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Viet Nam–Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, to be commemorated during the Viet Nam–Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2027.