Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation Remains Cornerstone of Bilateral Ties: Lao Scholar

Vietnam and Laos reaffirmed their strategic cohesion through cultural exchange on the 49th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam–Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (July 18, 1977–2026). A special Vietnamese feature film, Mua Do (Red Rain), was screened in Vientiane on July 16 to mark the occasion. A delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang, paid a working visit to Laos from July 15–16. The two countries agreed to step up cooperation in finance, agriculture, natural resources, and environmental management, with a focus on sustainable agricultural development, forest protection, and green energy. NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed that caring for martyrs' families, Heroic Mothers, and wounded and sick soldiers has always been regarded as a focal political task, reflecting the nation’s enduring tradition of gratitude towards those who contributed to national independence and reunification. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung sent congratulatory messages to Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Philippines (1976–2026). Delivering a keynote speech on the future of Thailand-Vietnam relations after five decades of diplomatic ties, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung underscored the important role of universities not only in preserving shared history but also in shaping the future of the bilateral partnership through education, research and people-to-people connections. To deepen practical cooperation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung proposed increasing exchanges at all levels, especially high-level visits, while strengthening coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, particularly as Greece serves as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2025–2026 term. Party General Secretary and State President To Lam highlighted the country's recent socio-economic achievements, recognising the significant contributions by the People's Public Security force, particularly the People's Police, senior police leaders over different periods and the Association of Former People's Public Security Officers through grassroots movements safeguarding national security. Opening the event, the PM underscored the significance of the meeting, saying that it is the first engagement between the new-term government’s members and the business community - the vanguard on the economic front, playing a key role in driving growth, generating employment, and enhancing national competitiveness. During its 15 years of operation, the committee fulfilled its assigned functions and responsibilities, serving as an effective advisory body by proposing solutions to pressing issues and recommending policies to promote livelihoods and improve the life quality for locals. A senior official reaffirmed the Vietnamese Party and State's support for expanding comprehensive and substantive cooperation between Chongqing and Vietnamese localities, calling on both sides to continue effectively implementing the common perceptions reached by the two countries' high-ranking leaders. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on July 17 sent a congratulatory message to Mindaugas Sinkevičius on his election as Prime Minister of Lithuania. PM Le Minh Hung recommended that the two sides step up all-level exchanges and meetings, especially those at high level, make full use of the existing cooperation mechanisms, expand collaboration in the economy, trade and investment, and effectively implement the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Party General Secretary and State President To Lam stressed that every set of remains recovered represents far more than a technical achievement. It marks the return of a son or daughter to the Fatherland and to his/her family, the restoration of a missing chapter of history, and a reaffirmation of the country's enduring tradition of remembering those who served the nation. The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. Building on the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and Cuba, the Vietnam–Cuba Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City has worked closely with the Consulate General of Cuba in Ho Chi Minh City to organise a wide range of activities in recent years, including gatherings marking major national anniversaries, cultural and artistic exchanges, and programmes connecting organisations and localities from the two countries. The revised code proposes more progressive procedural rules to enhance adversarial proceedings, tighten power oversight and better protect human and citizens' rights. It will retain effective existing provisions, amend or repeal outdated regulations, and introduce new procedures to expedite case handling, reduce procedural costs and improve efficiency while ensuring fairness, objectivity and greater protection of the lawful rights and interests of organisations and individuals. It also aims to modernise criminal proceedings through the wider application of digital technologies and closer alignment with international practices. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang commended the unity and sense of responsibility shown by the Vietnamese community in Udon Thani and across Thailand, urging them to continue preserving the Vietnamese language and cultural identity while helping build a positive image of Vietnamese people and contributing to bilateral relations. The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency. Vietnam expects Mauritania to act as a bridge for substantive cooperation between Vietnam and the African Union (AU), said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang during a reception in Hanoi on July 16 for Minister in charge of the General Secretariat of the Mauritanian Government Moctar Al Housseynou Lam. The drafting agency proposed eliminating 38 administrative procedures and 40 business conditions, and simplifying another 13 procedures. The reforms are expected to slash total processing time by 904 days and trim an estimated 189.9 billion VND (7.3 million USD) in compliance costs. The two officials agreed to continue their long-standing coordination at multilateral forums, including the Francophonie, while reinforcing practical collaboration with regional organisations such as ASEAN and the AU, for the benefit of their people and for peace, stability and development in their respective regions and globally. The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in overseas Vietnamese and overseas Lao affairs for the 2026–2030 period, providing a framework for future collaboration. Laos will send a delegation to Vietnam to study preparations for the World Conference of Overseas Vietnamese, schedule Information source: VietnamPlus English