On October 9, during the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Laos, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of Laos, and Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet of Cambodia met over breakfast to exchange ideas.

During the meeting, the three leaders underscored the longstanding tradition of solidarity and mutual assistance between Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, calling it a precious asset that serves as the foundation for building trust and cooperation. This tradition, they said, is crucial in fostering unity and connection among the three nations.

The Prime Ministers agreed that many trilateral cooperation mechanisms have been established and are functioning effectively, contributing to the strengthening of ties between the countries. Defense and security cooperation remains a pivotal pillar of the trilateral relationship, and economic, trade, and investment partnerships are advancing strongly.

In this spirit, the leaders committed to continuing their close collaboration in ensuring national security and fostering development in their respective countries. They also agreed to maintain regular bilateral and trilateral high-level contacts and exchanges across various sectors, including promoting engagement between young leaders and youth from all three nations.

The three Prime Ministers concurred that economic and trade cooperation must see strategic breakthroughs to align with the scope of their political relations and the potential strengths of each nation.

The leaders agreed to work together to ensure security and safety in the border areas, especially the tri-border region, and to promote border-area development. They stressed the importance of optimizing the land border gate systems between the three countries and enhancing infrastructure, transportation, and economic connectivity.

The three countries reaffirmed the principle of not allowing hostile forces to use one country’s territory to harm another’s security. They also agreed to continue organizing the annual meeting of the three countries’ Defense Ministers and the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Ministerial Conference on Crime Prevention.

The Prime Ministers expressed their determination to further develop bilateral and trilateral cooperation mechanisms in a more effective and pragmatic manner, benefiting the people and contributing to the ASEAN community. They pledged to continue supporting peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his gratitude to the governments of Laos and Cambodia for their continued support of the Vietnamese communities in their countries. He hoped they would further facilitate these communities' stable lives and integration into the local societies, enabling them to contribute to the development of Laos, Cambodia, and the relationship between the three countries.

The leaders also affirmed their commitment to supporting one another at international forums, particularly within ASEAN and the United Nations. They voiced their support for Cambodia's successful hosting of the 20th Francophonie Summit in 2026.

Quang Phong