Nguyen Manh Cuong, member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Party Committee at the Ministry, and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that the visit of Tran Cam Tu, permanent member of the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party, should bring about new changes. (Photo: Thanh Long)
From April 9 to 10, Comrade Tran Cam Tu, member of the Politburo and Permanent Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party, will lead a high-level Vietnamese delegation on an official visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of Cambodia.
On this occasion, Nguyen Manh Cuong, member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Party Committee at the Ministry, and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, granted an interview to the press on the importance and expectations related to this visit.
Could you explain the significance, purpose, and importance of the official visit to Laos and Cambodia by Comrade Tran Cam Tu, a permanent member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Party?
As part of the implementation of the 2026 foreign policy program of the top leaders and at the invitation of Comrade Vilay Lakhamphong, permanent member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, and Comrade Samdech Say Chhum, Vice President of the Cambodian People’s Party and head of the Permanent Committee of the Central Committee, Comrade Tran Cam Tu, a permanent member of the Secretariat, will conduct official visits to Laos on April 9 and Cambodia on April 10.
This is the first official visit of the Permanent Committee of the Central Committee of the Party to two neighboring countries, taking place at a time of major political and cultural importance. The people of Laos and Cambodia are preparing to celebrate their traditional New Year festivals – Bun Pi-may and Chol Chhnam Thmey – events that highlight the cultural identity, community solidarity, and historical ties that bind the three Indochinese countries. This visit also comes immediately after Vietnam’s successful 14th Party Congress, the election of the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels, the restructuring of its leadership apparatus, and the implementation of new strategic directions.
This visit follows the very fruitful state visits of Secretary General To Lam to Laos and Cambodia in February 2026, clearly demonstrating the continuity and coherence in implementing the Party’s foreign policy. It is not only a continuation of this policy but also a concrete measure to translate high-level commitments into tangible actions, thus injecting a new dynamic into the cooperation between the three countries.
In a world and region of constant and unpredictable change, the consolidation and strengthening of relations between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia are essential, especially since these three countries are in the midst of development, modernization, and deep integration, requiring close coordination to seize opportunities, minimize risks, and promote development.
Therefore, this visit is of great importance. Firstly, it reaffirms the consistency of Vietnamese foreign policy, which values and prioritizes relations with Laos and Cambodia. Secondly, it strengthens the foundations of political trust between the three parties and states. Thirdly, it examines and encourages the implementation of high-level commitments and agreements between the two countries, thereby propelling Vietnam-Laos and Vietnam-Cambodia relations to a new stage of development, one that is more efficient, concrete, and reliable. Fourthly, it promotes the dissemination of information to the populations of the two countries, especially the younger generations, on solidarity, friendship, and the close ties between Vietnam and Laos, as well as Vietnam and Cambodia, thus consolidating the solid foundations of relations and strategic ties between Vietnam and Laos, and overall friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia.
Indeed, youth and student exchange programs and local twinning agreements have greatly contributed to forging close ties between the young generations of the three countries. Every year, thousands of Laotian and Cambodian students study in Vietnam, thus creating a lasting bond of friendship between the two nations.
During his visit, Tran Cam Tu, a member of the Permanent Committee of the Central Committee of the Party, will hold talks with high-ranking leaders in Laos and Cambodia on the major directions to prioritize for promoting overall cooperation, emphasizing the effective implementation of concluded agreements. The emphasis will be on deepening and strengthening relations, linking them to the specific interests of the populations, such as the development of connectivity infrastructure, cross-border trade, education and training, and digital transformation.
Can you tell us about the current state of relations between Vietnam and Laos, as well as between Vietnam and Cambodia, and your expectations for this visit?
During the past period, relations between Vietnam and Laos, as well as between Vietnam and Cambodia, have continued to develop positively and comprehensively, resulting in many concrete results in all areas.
For Laos, political relations remain a solid foundation. The high level of trust between the two parties and states is evidenced by frequent high-level contacts, effective cooperation mechanisms, and close coordination within international organizations. Following the state visit of Secretary General To Lam, the two parties quickly implemented the provisions of the “strategic engagement” concept, reflecting deep and concerted cooperation, from development vision to concrete policies.
In the economic field, cooperation is undergoing a profound transformation. Bilateral trade volume is expected to reach nearly 3 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, representing an increase of over 33% compared to 2024 – a figure that reflects impressive growth. Vietnam is currently Laos’ third largest trading partner and one of the main investors, with 274 projects totaling an investment of nearly 6 billion U.S. dollars. Key projects, such as transport, energy, and logistics infrastructure, are gradually paving the way for shared development.
Defense and security cooperation remains an essential pillar, contributing to maintaining political stability and social order, especially in border areas. Additionally, the education, culture, health, and agriculture sectors have also recorded many positive results, contributing to improving the living conditions of the populations.
For Cambodia, bilateral relations have made significant progress. Political trust has been solidly consolidated on the basis of principles agreed upon at the highest level. Economically, Vietnam is Cambodia’s third largest trading partner globally and the first within ASEAN. By 2025, bilateral trade volume is expected to exceed 11.3 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of over 12% compared to the previous year.
Vietnam currently has 229 investment projects in Cambodia, totaling over 3 billion U.S. dollars, focusing on key sectors such as agriculture, telecommunications, banking, and energy. These projects not only generate positive economic impacts but also create jobs, contributing to the socio-economic development of the region.
Defense and security cooperation between the two countries continues to strengthen, significantly contributing to the stability of the border region. Additionally, cultural and social exchanges, scientific and technological exchanges, and interactions between populations are highly encouraged, especially cooperation between border areas.
Overall, current relations between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia are based on three main pillars: high political trust, increasingly close economic cooperation, and ever more intense human exchanges. These pillars form a solid foundation that allows the three countries to develop together in a context of deep international integration.
On this basis, the visit of Comrade Tran Cam Tu, a permanent member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Party, is expected to bring about new changes, notably on several points:
Firstly, to promote the implementation of high-level commitments, ensuring continuity and effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms. Secondly, to enhance economic connectivity, especially in the areas of transport infrastructure, energy, and digital transformation. Thirdly, to develop cooperation in education and training to build high-quality human resources – a key factor in sustainable development. Fourthly, to promote exchanges among peoples, especially among young generations, to consolidate the social foundations of long-term relations.
It can be affirmed that this visit is not only of diplomatic importance but also marks a significant step, contributing to shaping a new direction for the development of Vietnam-Laos and Vietnam-Cambodia relations in the upcoming period.
Thanks to the firm political determination of the leaders of the three parties and states, as well as the tradition of solidarity and the close ties that unite the peoples of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, we have every reason to believe that this visit will be a resounding success, contributing to consolidating and strengthening overall friendship and cooperation between the three countries for peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development in the region.
Thank you very much, comrade!
