From October 8 to 10, 2026, Governor Pham Duc An of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) accompanied Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on his official visits to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and the Kingdom of Cambodia. The visits contributed to strengthening the traditional friendship, enhancing political trust, and promoting comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and its two neighboring countries, including in the finance and banking sector.
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung holds talks with Lao Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith
During the visits, Governor Pham Duc An participated in the delegation’s high-level diplomatic activities, including official welcome ceremonies, talks between the Vietnamese Prime Minister and the Prime Ministers of Lao PDR and Cambodia, and meetings with senior leaders of the two countries. The activities focused on discussing measures to promote substantive cooperation, strengthen economic connectivity, and effectively implement commitments and agreements between Vietnam and Lao PDR and Cambodia.
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung holds talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet
As economic, trade and investment cooperation among the three countries continues to expand, the finance and banking sector plays an important role in providing payment services, supporting businesses, facilitating capital flows, and promoting cross-border trade and investment. The presence of Vietnamese banks in Lao PDR and Cambodia not only contributes to expanding access to financial services but also strengthens financial connectivity among businesses and people across the three countries.
As part of the working program, Governor Pham Duc An visited and held meetings with Vietnamese banks operating in Lao PDR and Cambodia, including Lao-Viet Bank, Vietcombank in Laos, MB Bank in Cambodia, and the Bank for Investment and Development of Cambodia (BIDC).
At the meetings, Governor Pham Duc An was briefed on the banks’ operations and business performance, development strategies, advantages and challenges, as well as their recommendations and proposals. He acknowledged and highly appreciated the banks’ efforts to maintain stable operations, expand their market presence, provide financial services to customers, support businesses, and contribute to promoting economic cooperation between Vietnam and the host countries.
Governor Pham Duc An expressed his confidence that, with a spirit of innovation, initiative and responsibility, and in strict compliance with the laws of the host countries, Vietnamese banks operating in Lao PDR and Cambodia would continue to operate effectively, safely and sustainably. He emphasized that these banks should make positive contributions to the socio-economic development of the host countries while serving as important bridges for economic cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia.
On October 10, 2026, the delegation led by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung successfully concluded its official visits to Lao PDR and Cambodia, opening up new opportunities to further strengthen and expand cooperation with the two neighboring countries in the coming period.