The article posted on Pathet Lao’s official Facebook page. (Photo: VNA)

According to the VNA correspondent in Laos, on the occasion of the 49th Anniversary of the signing of the Laos-Vietnam Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, Pathet Lao of the Lao News Agency recently published an editorial affirming the development of the of great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between the two Parties, States and peoples of Laos and Vietnam.

The editorial stressed that throughout the history of the two countries’ revolutions, the relationship between Laos and Vietnam had evolved from “traditional friendship” into “great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion”, becoming a symbol of a relationship that “unparalleled special, unlike any other and unmatched” in international relations.

The special Laos-Vietnam relations is not only an invaluable asset of the two nations but also an important foundation for safeguarding the independence, construction, and sustainable development of both countries.

The special relations between Laos and Vietnam was founded by Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and Lao Presidents Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong and nurtured by generations of leaders and people of the two countries.

Having shared hardships, fought alongside one another and made sacrifices throughout every stage of the revolutionary struggles, the special Laos-Vietnam relationship has become a rare model in international relations.

Looking back at history, numerous events laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Indochinese Communist Party in 1930 to liberate the people of the three Indochinese countries (Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia).

The indomitable patriotism, refusal to surrender, and determination to escape the severe oppression and exploitation of old colonialism brought the three Indochinese countries increasingly closer together, particularly Laos and Vietnam.

During the revolutionary struggle, Laos and Vietnam fought in the same trench, formed a combat alliance, and consistently stood shoulder to shoulder through periods of immense hardship and sacrifice, guided by President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching: “Helping a friend means helping oneself.”

On July 18, 1977, the two countries signed the “Laos-Vietnam Treaty of Amity and Cooperation”, which was a historical event, a solid legal foundation and long-term strategic framework for the special Laos-Vietnam relationship in a new era.

Since then, Laos and Vietnam have signed numerous other cooperation documents to strengthen their traditional friendship, and the two countries officially elevated their relationship to “great friendship” in February, 2019.

Over more than 50 years since the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, cooperation between Laos and Vietnam has continued to develop comprehensively.

In politics, high-level meetings have taken place regularly, reflecting the deep political trust between the two countries.

In economics, Vietnam has consistently remained one of the largest investors in Laos, with many key projects and growing bilateral trade.

Vietnam is currently among the three largest foreign investors in Laos, with more than 240 valid projects and registered capital amounting to billions of USD. Vietnamese businesses’ projects focus on aspects including energy, mining, agriculture - forestry, telecommunications, finance - banking, and services, making important contributions to Laos’s socio-economic development, particularly in remote, disadvantaged, and hard-to-reach areas.

Two-way trade between Laos and Vietnam reached nearly 3 billion USD in 2025, providing an important basis for the two sides to strive to reach the target of 5 billion USD soon.

In culture-social affairs, Laos and Vietnam have maintained close cooperation and coordination. A notable highlight was that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially recognized Hin Nam No National Park in Khammouane province, central Laos, as a transboundary World Natural Heritage site together with Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, reflecting the two countries’ joint efforts and a source of great pride for both nations.

Alongside cooperation in the economy, collaboration in education-training and human resource development continues to be affirmed as one of the most enduring pillars of the special Laos-Vietnam relationship.

Vietnam currently hosts more Lao students than any other country, with approximately 14,000-16,000 studying at Vietnamese universities, research institutes, and training centres.

Many Lao leaders, managers and experts were educated and trained at Vietnamese institutions and have since become key members of Laos’s political and socio-economic systems.

This not only reflects Vietnam’s long-term strategic vision in investing in Laos’s human resources but also serves as compelling evidence of the profoundly humanitarian nature of the “great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic cohesion between the two Parties, States and peoples of Laos and Vietnam”.

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