Vietnamese airline Vietjet has signed an agreement to support Laos in advancing its aviation infrastructure.
The partnership, announced on 10 January, was overseen by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, during the latter’s official visit to Laos from 9 to 10 January.
Scheduled to be completed within six months, the initiative aligns with the 9-year strategic cooperation agreement between the governments of Laos and Vietnam in the field of transportation.
With a vision to 2030, this agreement establishes a framework for developing transport strategies to enhance connectivity and operations across various transportation modes.
Details of the airport network project have not yet been disclosed.
In addition to improving the aviation infrastructure, the Vietjet Aviation Institute has pledged to strengthen Laos’ aviation workforce through international-standard training programs. This initiative is expected to create 2,500 new jobs in Laos, expand civil aviation projects, and establish an independent Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul center in the country.
During a separate meeting, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith to discuss joint initiatives.
These included the development and operation of Vung Ang Port in Vietnam’s Ha Tinh Province, a planned railway connecting Laos’ capital Vientiane to the seaport, and the Vientiane-Hanoi Highway projects. The two leaders also addressed electricity trade initiatives, the construction of a coal-fired power plant, and the establishment of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Park.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also attended the ceremony for the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Park, which spans over 30,000 square meters in Xaythany district. This district is envisioned as part of a new urban center under the expansion plans of Vientiane Capital.