Leaders of Vietnam, Laos witness exchange of bilateral cooperation agreements

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam and General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith on February 5 witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents aimed at further strengthening bilateral collaboration and reinforcing the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

Also attending the ceremony, held within the framework of the Vietnamese Party chief’s ongoing state visit to Laos, were Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, and senior officials of the two countries.

The documents included a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training and Laos’ Ministry of Education and Sports on the establishment of a Vietnamese university in Laos; a handover record of Vietnamese-language textbooks and materials under the project on integrating the history of the special Vietnam–Laos and Laos–Vietnam relationship into school curricula in both countries; the 2026 cooperation programme between the two ministries of justice; and MoUs between Phu Tho province and the Lao provinces of Luang Namtha, Bokeo and Luang Prabang.

The two sides’ agreement to further deepen “strategic cohesion” has created a new guiding framework, ushering bilateral cooperation into a more substantive and closely integrated phase that aligns political vision with development interests.

Bilateral cooperation has increasingly shifted from extensive expansion to greater depth, with a focus on tangible effectiveness and concrete outcomes. Inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms have been maintained regularly, helping address obstacles in a timely manner and accelerate the implementation of high-level agreements and major cooperation programmes.

Taking place at the outset of the new terms of key leaders of both Parties and States, General Secretary Lam’s visit holds special strategic significance, clearly demonstrating strong political resolve to link long-term vision with concrete action plans, and development aspirations with practical results. It provides a solid political foundation for Vietnam–Laos relations to continue deepening, enhancing effectiveness and sustainability, in line with the stature of the special relationship and the trust and expectations of the two countries' people./.