Viet Nam to help Laos build US$3 million hospital in Vientiane

The summit meeting between Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith in Vientiane, Laos, April 24, 2025

The summit meeting took place right after the welcome ceremony for President Luong Cuong was held with the highest protocol for a head of state.

Sisoulith warmly welcomed Luong's first visit to Laos as the President of Viet Nam, saying that the visit reflects the importance that the Vietnamese Party, State, and President himself attach to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos. 

The visit also marks an important milestone, contributing to deepening ties between the two Parties and countries in an effective and practical manner, for the sake of national construction and defence in each nation, noted Sisoulith.

Sisoulith affirmed Laos's readiness to work closely with Luong and other high-ranking Vietnamese leaders to further foster the unique Viet Nam–Laos relationship, saying that Viet Nam's achievements in all aspects serve as a great source of encouragement and inspiration for Laos.

President Luong Cuong, who is on a two-day visit to Laos, affirmed that the Party, State and people of VIet Nam always deeply cherish the sincere support extended by the Lao Party, State and people to the Vietnamese revolution.

He praised Laos for maintaining political and social stability and achieving positive economic progress, reaffirming Viet Nam’s unwavering support for Laos’s international integration and building of an independent, self-reliant economy.

Both leaders agreed that the enduring solidarity between Viet Nam and Laos is an invaluable asset founded by previous generations and further nurtured by future generations.

The two leaders agreed to consolidate the trusted and close political relationship, maintain regular high-level visits and all-level exchanges, and facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

They underscored the importance of effectively implementing high-level agreements, treaties, and cooperation strategies, particularly the outcomes of the recent meeting between the two Politburos, the two Party General Secretaries, and the 47th session of the Viet Nam–Laos Inter-Governmental Committee. 

Both sides promised to increase theoretical exchanges between the two Parties, sharing of experiences in preparation for their respective upcoming National Party Congress, as well as organisational restructuring, and intensify aware campaigns about the special Viet Nam–Laos relationship among officials, Party members and people from walks of life, especially the youth.

The two leaders agreed on the need to seek new, breakthrough approaches to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation across economic, cultural, and sci-tech fields, by leveraging each nation’s strengths and potential. It is also necessary to enhance comprehensive and robust linkages between the two countries in the fields of economy, infrastructure development, budget-finance, and tourism.

Both sides vowed to take effective measures to elevate bilateral trade to US$5 billion in the coming years and concurred to step up experience exchanges on macro-economic management. 

On joint work at multilateral forums, the two Presidents agreed to bolster information exchange as well as mutual consultation and support, promoting ASEAN’s centrality, and ASEAN-led and other key international cooperation mechanisms. They also committed to further coordinate bilaterally and with international partners involved in the sustainable and effective management of Mekong River water resources, for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Both sides affirmed their commitment to closely coordinate and effectively implement the outcomes of the 3rd meeting of the top leaders of the three parties of Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia (held on February 22), while continuously nurturing the traditional friendship among the three parties and peoples.

On this occasion, President Luong announced that the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam had decided to gift a district-level hospital project in Vientiane worth US$3 million to Laos. He proposed that both sides work closely together to expedite the project’s implementation and complete it by 2026.

President Luong Cuong (standing, left) and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith witness the signing and exchange of a Letter of Intent between the Vietnamese and Lao Ministries of National Defence.

Following their talks, the leaders witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents between the two countries’ ministries of national defense and justice, as well as between the authorities of Viet Nam’s Gia Lai province and Laos’ Attapeu province.

On this occasion, the Lao side also presented an adjusted investment licence for the Xekaman 3 hydropower project in Sekong province. Later the same evening, prior to the official banquet hosted by Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith for his Vietnamese guests, the sides together attended the traditional Lao New Year (Bunpimay) wrist-tying ceremony to wish for good fortune in the year ahead./.