Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Phan Minh Chien, tells Lao and Vietnamese reporters in Vientiane about the 14th National Congress of the CPV.

Vietnam’s 14th CPV National Congress begins, marking new era of development

The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), currently taking place in Hanoi from January 19-25, is a major political event of decisive significance for Vietnam’s future development.
Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Phan Minh Chien, on Friday briefed Lao and Vietnamese reporters at the Vietnamese embassy in Vientiane regarding the ongoing Congress.
“Under the 14th National Congress, Vietnam will continue to place great cooperative and friendly relations, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and the strategic Vietnam-Laos partnership at the forefront of its foreign policy,” he said.
He noted that in recent years, the leaders of the two parties had visited each other regularly to discuss joint development work.
He reported that average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in Vietnam from 2021-2025 was 6.3 percent per year, among the highest globally.
In 2025, GPD exceeded US$510 billion (1.47 times that of 2020), and per capita income reached about US$5,000, placing Vietnam among the upper-middle-income countries.
The material and spiritual well-being of the people had clearly improved, he added, with the poverty rate declining from 4.4 percent from 2021 to 1.3 percent in 2025, meeting the goal to “leave no one behind” in the development process.
Vietnam has consistently pursued a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, while diversifying and multilateralising its external relations.
Party diplomacy, state diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy were carried out comprehensively and in a well-coordinated manner, achieving notable results. Relations with countries and partners, especially major powers, strategic partners and traditional friends, were deepened, stabilised, and grew in a sustainable manner. 
Party discipline was strictly enforced, and the fight against corruption, wastefulness, and negative practices was intensified with strong political determination, with no forbidden zones and no exceptions.
The Party’s leadership and governance methods continued to be renewed, becoming more democratic, effective and efficient.
In Laos, the National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party took place earlier this month, Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Training Committee of the Party Central Committee, Mr Sakhone Phommalath, said.
Comrade Sakhone said the report by Comrade Phan Minh Chien on the implementation of the resolutions of the Party’s 13th National Congress had achieved great and comprehensive results.
“Vietnam is a country with stability at the forefront of the world, which is a lesson for Laos in fulfilling its duty to safeguard and build the nation towards socialist goals,” he said.
Comrade Phan Minh Chien told reporters in Vientiane that the theme of the 14th National Congress is “Under the glorious flag of the Party, joining efforts and unanimity to successfully fulfil the country’s development goals through 2030; building strategic autonomy, self-reliance and resilience; striding forward with confidence in the era of national advancement and happiness on the steadfast path to socialism.”
The National Congress is a turning point in the development of Vietnam. It takes place as Vietnam strives to realise the goals, policies, guidelines and tasks set by the 13th National Party Congress and coincides with the review of 40 years of renovation and the celebration of the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam on February 3, 1930.
Vietnam aims to realise the country’s development goals by 2030, when the Party celebrates its centennial anniversary (1930-2030), and to work towards the 2045 vision marking the centennial anniversary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (1945-2045).
By 2030, Vietnam will become a developing country with a modern industry and upper-middle income status. This is a milestone on the road to the vision that by 2045 Vietnam will become a developed, high-income nation with peace, independence, democracy, prosperity, advancement, happiness, and the steadfast pursuit of socialism.
To achieve this, a target of average annual GDP growth rate of 10 percent or higher over the years 2026-2030 has been set, along with a goal to raise per capita GDP to approximately US$8,500 by 2030.

By Khonesavanh Latsaphao
(Latest Update January 19, 2026)