The two-day visit was made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and their spouses.
This is the first overseas trip by Thongloun Sisoulith in his capacity as Lao Party General Secretary and President for the 2021-2026 tenure. The visit also aims to implement consistent foreign policy Laos and Vietnam in reserving and promoting the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation of the two countries.
This is the first overseas trip by Thongloun Sisoulith in his capacity as Lao Party General Secretary and President for the 2021-2026 tenure. The visit also aims to implement consistent foreign policy Laos and Vietnam in reserving and promoting the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation of the two countries.
It contributes to affirming the two countries’ foreign policies of attaching great importance to preserving and continuously developing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, and deepening the close and trusting relations between leaders of the two Parties and countries in the time ahead.
 Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith inspect the guard of honour at the welcome ceremony in Hanoi on June 28. Photo: Thong Nhat / VNA  The welcome ceremony in Hanoi on June 28. Photo: Lam Khanh / VNA  People in Hanoi welcome General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith. Photo: Lam Khanh / VNA |
| General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, his spouse and a Lao Party and State high-level delegation were welcomed to Vietnam at an official ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on June 28 morning chaired by State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse. Following the welcome ceremony, the Lao leader and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong had talks. |
Over the past more than eight decades, the traditional relationship and close-knit, faithful ties between Vietnamese and Lao peoples, founded by Vietnam’s President Ho Chi Minh and Presidents Kaysone Phomvihane and Suphanouvong of Laos, and promoted by generations of the two countries’ leaders and peoples, have become an invaluable asset shared by the two nations.
 At the talks between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith. Photo: Phuong Hoa / VNA  Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the talks. Photo: Phuong Hoa / VNA  Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreements between the two nations following their talks in Hanoi on June 28. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA  The signing of cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA  An overview of the signing ceremony between VinFast and Phongsubthavy Group Company. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA  The signing of cooperation agreement between the Party Central Committee's Office of Vietnam and the LPRP Central Committee's Office for 2021-25. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA |
The Vietnamese people always remember and are sincerely thankful for the great and precious support that the Lao Party, State and people have dedicated to the Party, State and people of Vietnam in the past struggles for national unification as well as in the current cause of national construction and defence.
 Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) and Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith. Photo: Duong Giang / VNA  Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hold talks with Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith. Photo: Duong Giang / VNA  Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue on June 28 hosted a reception for visiting General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith. Photo: Doan Tan / VNA  Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue on June 28 hosted a reception for visiting General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith. Photo: Doan Tan / VNA |
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Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 28 hosted a reception for visiting Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith. Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue on June 28 met with Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith. |
Vietnam and Laos have also provided mutual support in their reform process, and both have reaped significant achievements in economy, and social and foreign affairs. Notably, the bilateral political ties have developed more intensively, extensively and firmly.
 Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivers a speech to welcome Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA  Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith speaks at the event. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA  Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, LPRP General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and their spouses toast the special solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA |
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and their spouses on June 28 evening hosted a banquet dinner to welcome visitting LPRP General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and his spouse and a high-level delegation of the Lao Party and State.
Despite the complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and early 2021, the two countries maintained a number of high-level meetings in suitable forms. Cooperation in national defence and security has also been enhanced and proven more fruitful.
 Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith had a meeting on June 29. Photo: Thong Nhat / VNA  Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith in Hanoi. Photo: Thong Nhat /VNA |
Vietnam is one of the three biggest investors in Laos. Two-way trade in the first five months of this year when the COVID-19 was still ravaging exceeded 570 million USD, up 25 percent year-on-year.
The two countries have continued to prioritise cooperation in education and training. Vietnam grants up to 1,220 scholarships to Lao students this year.
 Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith and a high-level delegation of the Lao Party and State paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi. Photo: Phuong Hoa / VNA  Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith (R) and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Do Van Chien. Photo: Phuong Hoa / VNA  VNA Deputy General Director Vu Viet Trang introduces photos featuring Vietnam-Laos ties to Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith and Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Photo: Thong Nhat / VNA  Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith on Tuesday spoke with officials, lecturers and students of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. Photo: Lam Khanh / VNA |
In the fight against COVID-19, Vietnam has helped Laos with millions of USD and equipment. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese Embassy has to date received about 1.3 million USD from Lao organizations and individuals to support Vietnam’s fight against COVID-19, including 500,000 USD worth of medical equipment.
On February 2019, Vietnam and Laos highlighted their great friendship in a joint statement which was issued on the occasion of the official friendship visit to Laos by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong from February 24-25, 2019.
The first overseas trip by Thongloun Sisoulith in his capacity as Lao Party General Secretary and President for the 2021-2026 tenure will contribute to the traditional friendship as well as the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two parties, countries and peoples./.
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