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The visits reaffirm Viet Nam’s foreign policy under the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, which gives high priority to relations with neighbouring countries and fellow ASEAN member states. They are expected to create fresh momentum for Viet Nam’s ties with Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Timor-Leste to continue developing in a deeper, more substantive, and effective manner, thereby making practical contributions to building a united and prosperous ASEAN Community.
This marks PM Sonexay Siphandone’s first official visit to Vietnam since he was re-elected by the 12th Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the 10th National Assembly to continue serving as Prime Minister. The visit carries particular significance as it takes place after the two countries successfully held their Party Congresses, consolidated their new-term senior leadership, and actively implemented the resolutions adopted by each Party, as well as each country’s socio-economic development plans.
In particular, following the historic state visits by Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith to Viet Nam in January and by Party General Secretary and President To Lam to Laos in February this year, the current visit reaffirms the consistency of the two countries’ senior leaders in attaching great importance and the highest priority to each other in their respective foreign policies. It also reflects their shared determination to continuously nurture the unique special relationship between Viet Nam and Laos, making it increasingly deep, substantive, and effective, while concretising the concept of “strategic connectivity” between the two nations.
Against the backdrop of increasingly complex geopolitical developments worldwide, the visit sends a strong message that Viet Nam and Laos will continue to stand side by side, share strategic interests, support each other in national development, and coordinate closely in responding effectively to common challenges. The Viet Nam–Laos relationship is not only an invaluable asset cultivated by generations of leaders and people of both countries, but has also become a unique model in international relations and cooperation for development in the new era. The two sides will continue to strengthen political trust, effectively maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and promote cooperation among ministries, sectors, and localities in line with the spirit of “strategic connectivity”. They will also continue close coordination at regional and international forums, particularly within ASEAN and Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.
For Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, this is his second visit to Viet Nam since the formation of Cambodia’s seventh-tenure Government in August 2023. Taking place as the two countries prepare to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations — a milestone of special significance in the history of Viet Nam–Cambodia ties — the visit is expected to further consolidate political trust and create fresh momentum for bilateral relations to develop in a deeper, more substantive, and effective manner across all areas.
Having gone through many ups and downs in history, Viet Nam–Cambodia relations have been built and nurtured on the foundations of friendship, solidarity, mutual support, and shared strategic interests, becoming a valuable asset of the two peoples. In order to further consolidate and strengthen ties across all fields, the two countries are actively implementing strategic orientations agreed upon by the senior leaders of the two Parties and the two countries. Both sides continue to maintain close cooperation and coordination within multilateral mechanisms, particularly ASEAN and Mekong sub-regional cooperation frameworks.
Following Party General Secretary and President To Lam’s visit to Thailand in late May, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s official visit to Viet Nam demonstrates Thailand’s high regard for cooperation with Viet Nam, as well as the Thai Government’s desire and determination to further promote the friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Viet Nam and Thailand are both important members of ASEAN and share common goals in sustainable development, digital transformation, green transition, and addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges. The visit provides an opportunity for leaders of the two countries to exchange experiences and propose initiatives to tackle challenges facing not only individual nations, but also the region as a whole.
The friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Timor-Leste have developed positively. Viet Nam is among the countries that have actively supported Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN and has consistently accompanied the country throughout its regional integration process. Bilateral relations have been nurtured on the basis of strong political trust and are now enjoying favourable conditions to move from emotional affinity and political goodwill towards concrete and substantive cooperation programmes.
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao’s official visit to Viet Nam and attendance at the Third ASEAN Future Forum are of particular significance to Timor-Leste’s integration process, as the country has become ASEAN’s 11th member. The visit is expected to elevate the close and effective cooperation between Viet Nam and Timor-Leste to a new level, in line with the interests of the peoples of both countries, while contributing to the building of a united, inclusive, and resilient ASEAN.
The official visits to Viet Nam by the Prime Ministers of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Timor-Leste will continue to strengthen political trust and promote cooperation between Viet Nam and these countries across all fields. They also demonstrate ASEAN member states’ strong support for Viet Nam’s initiative to promote strategic dialogue on the future of the bloc. The success of these visits will make an important contribution to building the ASEAN Community, as well as fostering peace and shared prosperity across the region.
