(KPL) HANOI, March 20, 2026 — Malaithong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Laos, met with Le Minh Hung in Hanoi on Friday to strengthen bilateral cooperation and address urgent fuel supply challenges facing Laos.

The meeting focused on enhancing collaboration in industry and trade, with particular attention to resolving fuel shortages in Laos amid ongoing global tensions affecting energy supply chains.

Both sides reached agreements on several key areas, especially in energy cooperation and infrastructure development. Vietnam expressed readiness to increase electricity imports from Laos, while the two countries agreed to jointly develop power transmission systems to improve efficiency and coordination.

The ministers also discussed plans to establish a Lao-Vietnam goods exhibition center and accelerate major connectivity projects, including the Vientiane–Hanoi Expressway and a Laos–Vietnam railway linking to Vung Ang Port.

In addition, both sides agreed to cooperate on the development of fuel storage facilities and pipeline systems to reduce transportation costs, and to promote investment in industrial zones along the shared border to create jobs and boost cross-border trade.

The two countries set a target to increase bilateral trade to between $5 billion and $10 billion by 2030.

To help ease the current fuel shortage, Vietnam has tasked its fuel companies with supplying 50 million liters of fuel to Laos. It will also facilitate the transit of fuel imports from third countries through Vietnam into Laos.

KPL