Vientiane:General Secretary and President of the Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone welcomed Vietnamese Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc during his official visit to Laos on September 21, 2026.
According to Lao News Agency, the meetings emphasized enhancing the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic partnership between Laos and Vietnam. Discussions focused on advancing high-level agreements and significant bilateral projects.
During his meeting with General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, Pham Gia Tuc conveyed greetings from Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam and other senior leaders. Thongloun praised the visit as Pham Gia Tuc’s first to Laos in his role as Permanent Deputy Prime Minister and expressed gratitude for Vietnam’s ongoing support. The visit was seen as an opportunity to further agreements made between the two Politburos and the outcomes of the 48th Meeting of the Lao-Vietnam Joint Commission.
The discussions included enhancing cooperation in politics, national defense and security, trade, investment, education, and economic connectivity through strategic infrastructure projects. Key initiatives such as the Vientiane-Hanoi Expressway and Vientiane-Vung Ang Railway were highlighted.
Pham Gia Tuc updated Thongloun on his talks with Lao Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, reaffirming Vietnam€š¬…¡¬€š¬…¾¢s dedication to fulfilling high-level agreements and advancing significant projects.
In a separate meeting, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone emphasized the close ties and mutual trust between the two nations. He underscored the importance of reviewing high-level agreements and outcomes of the Joint Commission Meeting while setting priorities for the year’s final quarter.
The leaders discussed progress in strategic projects like the Ministry of Public Security Command Center and the Lao National Population Management and Identity Card Database Project. They agreed on the importance of coordinating major economic projects and preparing for the Lao-Vietnam Friendship Year 2027, marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Pham Gia Tuc expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to implementing agreements and fostering cooperation for mutual benefit.
