On the morning of April 23 in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Y Thong held talks with Kheungkham Keonuchan, Deputy Minister and Deputy Head of the Lao Prime Minister’s Office, to discuss and align future cooperation between the two agencies.

The meeting took place in a spirit of friendship, openness and constructive dialogue, reflecting the shared determination to further consolidate the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos, particularly in the fields of ethnic and religious affairs.

Agreement on a new cooperation framework

During the talks, both sides focused on exchanging views and reaching consensus on the direction for building a new cooperation framework between Vietnam’s Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and the Lao Prime Minister’s Office.

The framework will be adjusted to ensure greater practicality and effectiveness, aligning with the functions, responsibilities and real-world needs of each side in the new context.

Deputy Minister Y Thong emphasized that Vietnam consistently values the sharing of experience in formulating and implementing policies on ethnic and religious affairs, particularly models for socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas, social welfare assurance and the preservation of cultural identity.

The Lao side expressed high appreciation for Vietnam’s achievements in these areas and conveyed its desire to strengthen exchanges of delegations, share experience in policymaking, enhance training for officials and promote the application of technology in state management.

Both sides agreed to soon finalize the draft of the new cooperation framework, which will serve as a foundation for long-term, stable and sustainable collaboration.

Based on this shared orientation, the two sides reviewed and agreed on specific contents to implement the 2026 cooperation plan.

Key areas include organizing high-level and technical working delegations; jointly hosting thematic workshops and seminars on ethnic and religious affairs; strengthening training and capacity-building; exchanging information and research materials; and coordinating the implementation of socio-economic development programs in areas with large ethnic minority populations.

Notably, both sides agreed to prioritize the promotion of digital transformation in the management and administration of ethnic and religious affairs, thereby improving governance efficiency and meeting the demands of the evolving context.

Kheungkham Keonuchan affirmed that relevant Lao agencies would closely coordinate with their Vietnamese counterparts to translate these agreements into concrete actions, ensuring synchronized and timely implementation.

Deepening the special Vietnam-Laos relationship

Beyond the main agenda, Deputy Minister Y Thong also shared Vietnam’s experience in developing legal frameworks for managing ethnic and religious affairs, the coordination mechanisms in policy implementation, challenges encountered in recent years, and approaches to countering harmful and misleading information on social media related to these fields.

At the conclusion of the talks, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the long-standing tradition of special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, while pledging close coordination to effectively implement the agreed initiatives.

The meeting not only helped concretize cooperation agreements between the two agencies but also marked an important step in deepening the special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive partnership between the two Parties, States and peoples of Vietnam and Laos.

The outcomes of the talks are expected to lay a solid foundation for implementing cooperation programs and plans in 2026 and beyond, contributing to socio-economic development and improving the livelihoods of ethnic communities in both countries.

Hoang Quy