Prime Minister Le Minh Hung hosted Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone today in Hanoi for an official visit and participation in the third ASEAN Future Forum (AFF). The visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss regional cooperation. Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone arrived in Hanoi this afternoon at the invitation of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, with the AFF scheduled from 7-9/6/2026.
At the government headquarters this afternoon, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone participated in a flag ceremony and reviewed the honor guard of the Vietnam People's Army.
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Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone review the honor guard of the Vietnam People's Army. *Photo: Giang Huy* |
Following the ceremony, the two leaders held talks. They assessed past cooperation results and proposed future cooperation directions. The leaders also witnessed the signing and exchange of various Vietnam-Laos cooperation documents.
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Prime Minister Le Minh Hung shakes hands with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. *Photo: Giang Huy* |
Earlier today, the Lao Prime Minister laid a wreath and visited President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, and placed a wreath at the Monument to Martyrs. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone also toured a photo exhibition highlighting the countries, people, and milestones in the special, fraternal relationship between Vietnam and Laos.
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Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone hold talks on 7/6. *Photo: Giang Huy* |
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone's visit coincides with his participation in the third ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) in Hanoi. The AFF 2026, themed "Shaping a common future: peace, prosperity, people-centered", takes place as ASEAN implements its ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and strategic plans. This marks the third consecutive year Vietnam has hosted the forum, an initiative announced at the ASEAN Summit in 2023.
Hosting the AFF 2026 is Vietnam's first major high-level multilateral foreign affairs event after the 14th Party Congress. It demonstrates Vietnam's independent, self-reliant, peaceful foreign policy, and promotes the image of an innovative, developing, and deeply integrated Vietnam to the regional and international community.
Vietnam and Laos established diplomatic relations on 5/9/1962. In 2/2019, both nations agreed to elevate their ties from "traditional friendship" to "great friendship". Bilateral trade turnover has seen continuous growth, reaching 3 billion USD for the first time in 2025. Vietnam also provides thousands of scholarships to Lao students annually, with tens of thousands of Lao cadres and students having studied in Vietnam, building human resources and long-term cooperation.
Pham Giang
