Laos and Vietnam sign 11 cooperation agreements covering infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital identity, education, finance and energy, while pledging to deepen trade, investment and strategic connectivity.
Laos and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen their longstanding bilateral partnership and signed 11 cooperation documents covering infrastructure, cyber security, digital systems, education, finance, energy and local administration during high-level talks in Vientiane.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung visited Laos for two days at the invitation of his Lao counterpart, Saleumxay Kommasith. The leaders held talks to review bilateral relations, expand cooperation and accelerate the implementation of existing agreements. They witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents aimed at strengthening political, economic and security ties between the neighbouring countries.
Also Read: Why Smart Factories Need Smarter AI Governance
The agreements include a project to construct a Laos-Vietnam friendship road along the shared border, an arrangement for transferring Laos’ population management and citizen identification system, and a memorandum on cyber security cooperation. The two governments also signed agreements on establishing the Laos-Vietnam Friendship University, cooperation between their finance ministries, and a 2027 cooperation plan between their justice ministries. Additional documents cover ethnic and religious affairs and an investment project for oil supply infrastructure linking the countries.
Cooperation at the provincial and municipal levels also featured prominently. Vientiane province and Vietnam’s Hai Phong city signed a memorandum covering 2026-2030, while Laos’ Oudomxay province signed similar cooperation documents with Hai Phong and Vietnam’s Ninh Binh province. These arrangements are intended to strengthen local-level exchanges and expand practical collaboration between government bodies.
The prime ministers expressed satisfaction with progress in political relations, defence and public security, education, trade, investment, technology and cultural exchanges. They agreed to encourage Vietnamese businesses to invest in sectors where Laos has development potential and to accelerate major connectivity projects, including the Hanoi-Vientiane Expressway, the Vientiane-Vung Ang railway, Vung Ang seaport and a cross-border oil pipeline.
Economic cooperation was another key focus. Bilateral trade reached nearly $3 billion in 2025, increasing 32.7% from the previous year. At an investment promotion conference held during the visit, both governments highlighted opportunities to attract private-sector investment and improve the business environment. They have also set an ambition to increase annual bilateral trade to $10 billion in the coming years.
Also Read: How Industry Leaders Are Driving Manufacturing Decarbonization
The leaders agreed to continue preparations for meetings between their respective ruling parties and the next session of the Laos-Vietnam Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation in early 2027. They also reaffirmed plans for the 2027 Year of Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship, which will mark 65 years of diplomatic relations and 50 years since the signing of their Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.
The agreements underscore both countries’ efforts to translate their close political relationship into expanded economic cooperation, infrastructure development and stronger regional connectivity.