Creating further impetus for cooperation between Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia to become increasingly substantive and effective.

Promoting the implementation of agreements and commitments made by high-level leaders.

- Prime Minister Le Minh Hung is about to pay official visits to Laos and Cambodia. Could you please explain the significance, purpose, and importance of these visits?

- This is Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's first official visit to Laos and Cambodia. The visit affirms the high regard and priority that the Party, State, and Government of Vietnam attach to these two neighboring countries, contributing to further deepening the "great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic linkage" between Vietnam and Laos and the "good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability" between Vietnam and Cambodia.

In the context of complex and unpredictable developments in the world and the region, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment and strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries is of even greater importance. The focus of the visit is to promote the implementation of agreements and commitments that senior Vietnamese leaders have reached with senior leaders of Laos and Cambodia in the past.

For Laos, the visit took place just days after the Lao National Assembly elected Saleumxay Kommasith as Prime Minister, creating favorable conditions for the two Prime Ministers to soon exchange views on directions and measures to strengthen cooperation between the two governments in the new period. For Cambodia, the visit took place four months after Prime Minister Hun Manet's official visit to Vietnam, and the two countries have ample room to enhance cooperation, especially in the fields of economics , trade, investment, and tourism.

The visit also contributed to fostering friendship and close ties between the people of Vietnam and the people of Laos and Cambodia, especially among the younger generation.

During the visit, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung will hold in-depth discussions with senior leaders of Laos and Cambodia on specific measures to promote cooperation, especially in practical areas that align with the interests of each country.

Substantive results across all fields.

- Looking back over the past period, what are the most notable milestones in the Vietnam-Laos and Vietnam-Cambodia relations, sir?

- In recent times, Vietnam's relations with Laos and Cambodia have developed well, yielding tangible results in various fields.

With Laos , the most notable aspect is the deepening political relationship. Immediately after the Party Congresses of each country, the General Secretary and President of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith, paid a state visit to Vietnam, and General Secretary To Lam paid a state visit to Laos. The fact that the top leaders of both parties chose the other country as their first destination shows the special priority that both sides give to the Vietnam-Laos relationship.

Defense and security continue to be important pillars. Both sides cooperate closely to maintain political stability, ensure security, and preserve peace and stability in the border region.

Economic cooperation is showing positive developments. By 2025, bilateral trade is expected to reach approximately US$3 billion, a 32% increase compared to 2024. Vietnam continues to be among the largest foreign investors in Laos, with around 300 projects and a total registered capital of approximately US$7.04 billion. Both sides are seeking ways to better exploit their potential, especially in infrastructure connectivity, energy, trade, and investment.

Education, training, and people-to-people exchanges have always been a priority for both countries. Localities, especially border provinces, regularly maintain exchange activities, thereby strengthening understanding and ties between the people of the two countries.

With Cambodia , political trust continues to be strengthened through frequent high-level exchanges and contacts, notably the State visit to Cambodia by General Secretary To Lam and the official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Hun Manet. Through these exchanges, both sides continue to identify priority areas for cooperation and jointly seek solutions to the issues at hand.

Regarding defense and security, both sides continue to strengthen cooperation in an increasingly effective manner, ensuring security and order and building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and mutually developing border.

Trade, investment, and tourism are key drivers of the relationship. By 2025, bilateral trade is projected to reach US$11.33 billion, an increase of 11.7% compared to 2024. Vietnam currently has 223 investment projects in Cambodia with a total registered capital of nearly US$3.4 billion, ranking second among Vietnam's overseas investment destinations.

Cooperation in education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges continues to be strengthened, with many exchange activities between localities, organizations, and people of the two countries, especially the younger generation.

With both Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam maintains close coordination within ASEAN, the United Nations, and the Mekong Subregion cooperation mechanisms, jointly contributing to strengthening ASEAN's solidarity and central role.

Creating further impetus for economic cooperation, trade, investment, and infrastructure connectivity.

- What are your expectations for this visit?

- The visit is a concrete step in implementing the foreign policy guidelines of the 14th Party Congress and the strategic resolutions of the Politburo, which give high priority to neighborly relations with Laos and Cambodia.

The primary expectation is that the Vietnamese Government will reach an agreement with the Lao and Cambodian governments on concrete measures to more effectively implement high-level agreements and commitments, especially in areas requiring significant breakthroughs and changes.

Next, we need to create more momentum for economic, trade, investment cooperation and infrastructure connectivity, both hard and soft infrastructure, so that economic cooperation with the two neighboring countries can take a stronger step forward; with Laos, aiming for a trade turnover target of 10 billion USD, and with Cambodia, aiming to reach 20 billion USD as soon as possible, as set by the high-level leaders of both sides.

The visit will also promote cooperation in education and training, human resource development, science and technology, and several new fields relevant to the development needs of each country. People-to-people exchanges, especially among the younger generation, will also be strengthened.

In 2027, Vietnam and Laos will celebrate 65 years of diplomatic relations and 50 years since the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation; Vietnam and Cambodia will celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations. This visit is also a practical preparation for these milestones.

We believe that this visit will create further impetus for cooperation between Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia, making relations with these two neighboring countries increasingly substantive and effective, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Thank you very much , sir!