Vietnam and Laos Mark 49th Anniversary of Friendship and Cooperation Treaty

On 18 July 2026, Vietnam and Laos commemorated the 49th anniversary of the 1977 Friendship and Cooperation Treaty. Professor Boviengkham Vongdala, president of the Laos‑Vietnam Friendship Association and former Lao minister, highlighted the treaty’s role as a political and legal foundation that safeguards the sovereignty, territorial integrity and development of both nations. He noted that the agreement has underpinned border demarcation, defence coordination, and deepening economic, cultural, scientific and technological exchanges.

The anniversary also recalled a December 2025 state visit by Vietnam’s Party General‑Secretary and President To Lam to Laos, during which the two sides agreed to elevate their partnership to a “strategic cohesion” level. Vietnamese officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Van Gia Zuc, have reiterated the treaty’s importance in recent meetings, emphasizing continued cooperation across regional and international forums.