On the afternoon of February 4, in Vientiane, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long led a Ministry of Industry and Trade delegation for talks with Lao Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Chansaveng Bounyong to bolster energy cooperation and implement high-level mandates, contributing to the success of the State visit to Laos by the General Secretary and his spouse.

The Vietnamese delegation included representatives from functional departments and key enterprises, specifically the Department of Foreign Market Development, the Electricity Regulatory Authority, the Department of Oil, Gas and Coal, and the Department of Planning, Finance and Enterprise Management, alongside leaders from Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and the National Power System and Market Operator (NSMO).

The working session took place as the friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos continue to strengthen, with industrial and trade ties, particularly energy cooperation, identified by the high-level leadership of both Parties and States as a vital, strategic, and long-term pillar.

During the working session, both sides comprehensively evaluated the industrial and trade cooperation situation over the past period, noting the positive results achieved, and frankly discussed issues to enhance cooperative efficiency in the coming phase, strictly following the orientations and instructions of the two countries' high-level leaders.

Regarding electricity cooperation, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and prioritizes cooperation in importing electricity from Laos, considering this a strategic cooperative content in line with high-level agreements and orientations between the two nations.

The two sides exchanged overall proposals to strengthen power system connectivity between the two countries and develop power source projects in Laos for export to Vietnam, while emphasizing the requirement for close and unified coordination from management to technical levels to promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles, ensuring the effective implementation of cooperation contents agreed upon by the leaders of both countries.

Regarding coal trade cooperation, both sides noted the initial results of implementing the agreement and protocol on coal and electricity trade between the two Governments, as reflected in the signing and execution of coal purchase and sale contracts by the two countries' enterprises.

The two sides also engaged in in-depth discussions on issues requiring continued coordination to enhance supply efficiency, improve transportation conditions, logistics, and customs clearance, creating a foundation for Vietnam-Laos coal cooperation to develop stably and sustainably, meeting Vietnam's actual needs and Laos's supply capacity based on economic efficiency and balanced interests.

In the petroleum sector, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long reaffirmed the policy of the two countries' high-level leaders. Accordingly, Vietnam supports and stands ready to assist Laos in developing petroleum storage infrastructure and pipeline systems to help Laos stabilize its supply and ensure energy security. Both sides discussed in detail the Lao side's aspirations for developing petroleum supply infrastructure in the coming time, in the spirit of substantive and on-schedule implementation in accordance with the needs and conditions of Laos.

Concluding the working session, both sides agreed to assign focal points from the two Ministries to continue close coordination to institutionalize the discussed contents, clearly defining tasks, roadmaps, and coordination mechanisms as a basis for reporting to the leaders of the two Ministries and high-level leadership. This will contribute to the effective implementation of high-level mandates in Vietnam-Laos cooperation and the success of the State visit by the high-level Leaders.