On the morning of January 10, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of Laos attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Park in Vientiane.

The project, funded by Vietnam under a turnkey model, spans 3 hectares in a future urban hub of Vientiane. Managed by Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in collaboration with Laos’ Central Office of the People’s Revolutionary Party, the park is set to be completed by 2025 to commemorate the national congresses of both nations.

At the heart of the park lies a central plaza, an artificial lake, and green spaces. The plaza will feature relief sculptures depicting historical and cultural ties between Laos and Vietnam, flanked by their national flags.

Prominently positioned will be statues of three great leaders: President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane, and President Souphanouvong.

Once completed, the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Park will be among the most beautiful in Vientiane. It will serve not only as a public space for residents and tourists but also as a significant site for educating future generations about the revolutionary traditions and enduring friendship between the two countries.

Following the ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Laos’ General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith.

President Sisoulith emphasized the strategic importance of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship, describing it as an invaluable asset. He also congratulated Vietnam on its recent victory at the AFF Championship, sharing the joy with the Vietnamese people.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted achievements from his discussions with Prime Minister Siphandone and the 47th Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental .

The leaders reviewed and resolved many pending issues from previous agreements, strengthening cooperation in key areas:

Political trust: Regular high-level exchanges and deeper collaboration.

Defense and security: Solidifying these as pillars of the bilateral relationship.

Trade and investment: Bilateral trade reached $2.2 billion in 2024, surpassing the $2 billion target, with a goal of reaching $5 billion.

Economic integration: Building resilient, independent economies while fostering international integration.

Cultural and educational collaboration: Expanding ties between localities and enhancing people-to-people exchanges.

Both leaders also emphasized the importance of further integrating the two economies, focusing on financial systems, infrastructure, transportation, energy, telecommunications, and tourism.

President Sisoulith praised Vietnam's decisive leadership, particularly under General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, for overcoming challenges in major joint projects.

He called on agencies from both nations to intensify efforts in implementing agreements, fostering transformative cooperation with a focus on strategic sectors.

Tran Thuong