At the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao Revolutionary Party, President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Bounnhang Vorachith, a high-level delegation of Vietnam led by General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, President Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong paid an official visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic on 24-25 February 2019.

During the visit, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with General Secretary and State President Bounnhang Vorachith; met with Politburo member and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Politburo member and Chairwoman of the National Assembly Pany Yathotou; received Politburo member, Chairman of the Lao Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction Saysomphone Phomvihane; member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Planning, Finance and Audit Committee of the National Assembly, Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association Vilayvong Buddakham, and visited former senior leaders of the Party and State of Laos. He also called at the construction site of Lao National Assembly Building, the gift of the Party, State and Vietnamese people; visited and talked to staff of the Vietnamese embassy, representatives of Vietnamese businesses and communities who are living, studying and working in Laos; and visited some cultural establishments in Vientiane capital.

In an atmosphere of friendship, special solidarity and trust, the two sides informed each other of the prominent developments of each Party and each country in implementing the Party Congress Resolutions, directions and key tasks in the coming time. The leaders exchanged lines and measures to continue effectively and substantially developing the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in all fields, contributing the successful realization of each Party's innovation; and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The two sides emphasized the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, Laos and Vietnam, established by the great President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Kaysone Phomvihane, Chairman Souphanouvong, fostered by generations of leaders of the two parties, States and peoples have become an invaluable common asset of the two parties and two nations.

The two sides agreed to step up coordination to effectively implement agreements signed between leaders of the two parties, countries, the Vietnam-Laos Joint Statements concluded during official friendship visits of senior leaders in the spirit of independence, self-reliance, equality and mutual benefit; satisfactorily combine the special nature of Vietnam-Laos relations with international practices; give priority and preferential treatment to each other; support and facilitate development for prosperity of each country, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the world.

The two sides agreed to strengthen and constantly deepen political relations, orient the overall cooperation relations between the two countries; improve the effectiveness of cooperation between the committees of the Parties, ministries and branches of the Governments, Committees of the National Assemblies, the Fronts, mass organizations, people's organizations and localities of the two countries; exchange theory and practice, share experience in party building, attach importance to training and retraining leaders and managers at all levels; build streamlined, effective and efficient political systems; socio-economic development and foreign affairs, international integration; step up communication and education on the traditional, special relations between Vietnam and Laos among people of the two countries, especially the young generation; actively implement the project to introduce the history of the Vietnam-Laos special relations into teaching at educational institutions; coordinate in building and refurbish historical relics of Vietnam-Laos special relations in each country; coordinate in celebrating big events of the two parties and the two countries.

The two sides emphasized the importance of and agreed to strengthen the pillar of defense and security cooperation in order to maintain political stability, security, social order and safety in each country; effectively implement defense and security protocols and cooperation plans; implement the Agreement on Land Border and Border Gate Management Regulations; the Protocol on Border Demarcation and Landmarks; strive to early settle the issue of free migration and unregistered marriages in the border areas between the two countries; build the Vietnam-Laos border of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and sustainable development; prevent transnational crimes, smuggling, trafficking of addictive substances; continue efforts to coordinate in search, and repatriation of remains of volunteer soldiers and Vietnamese experts who sacrificed in Laos.

The two sides agreed to share information in a timely manner, closely coordinate to effectively, mutually support each other in international and regional issues, especially within the framework of ASEAN, the United Nations and Greater Mekong sub-region cooperation mechanisms, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world; strengthen coordination with Cambodia to promote effective implementation of the Agreement to build the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Development Triangle area signed by the three Prime Ministers.

Party General Secretary, State President Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and State President Bounnhang Vorachith witnessed the signing ceremony of 9 cooperation documents between the two countries, including the Agreement on Cooperation in the Development of Energy Projects; Cooperation Agreement between the two Finance Ministries for the period of 2019-2020; Agreement on construction and operation of Vung Ang-Vientiane railway route and a number of other agreements and minutes of cooperation between ministries and branches of the two countries.