Vietnam-Laos relationship is of vital importance: Vietnamese and Lao NA leaders

Talks were held between President of the Lao National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane and his Vietnamese counterpart Vuong Dinh Hue following a welcome ceremony for  the top Vietnamese legislator in Vientiane at noon on May 16.

Both sides informed each other about their respective country’s situation, orientations and measures to continue promoting the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos as well as the traditional cooperation relationship. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of shared concern and cooperation between the two countries and the two legislative bodies at multilateral forums.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue hailed the great and comprehensive achievements that the Lao Party, State and people have recorded over the years, including the very important contribution of the Lao NA.

He expressed his belief that under the clear-sighted leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) as well as the effective supervision of the Lao NA, Laos will successfully carry out the Resolution adopted at the 11th Party Congress and the 5-year socio-economic development plan for the 2021 to 2026 period.

Hue affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to give wholehearted support, and help Laos overcome all difficulties and challenges in order to go ahead with sustainable development toward an increasingly important role and rising position in the international arena.

The two NA leaders emphasized that in the face of current complicated developments in the international and regional situation, both sides are fully aware of the value of maintaining and cultivating the "unique" close-knit and loyal neighbourliness for security and development of Vietnam and Laos, considering it as the law of development of vital importance, and one of the decisive factors to the victory of the revolutionary cause of each nation.

The two National Assembly Chairmen expressed their delight at the good development of the cooperative relationship between the two countries and the two National Assembly.

The two NA leaders expressed their delight at the positive development of the cooperative relations between the two countries and the two legislatures.

Overcoming difficulties and obstacles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past time, the two sides have made joint efforts to maintain regular visits, high-level meetings and bilateral cooperation mechanisms on all channels, including many exchanges and cooperation activities between both law-making bodies

They noted with satisfaction the results of cooperation in the fields of defence, security, education and training, transportation, and cooperation between localities.

Despite facing plenty of pandemic-induced difficulties, the two sides still maintained the momentum of trade and investment development, with two-way import-export turnover during the 4 months of 2022 reaching US$ 558.2 million, up 20.2% over the same period in 2021. Vietnam retained its position as the third largest direct investment country in Laos, with 214 valid projects and the total registered capital of around US$ 5.33 billion.

The pair agreed to work together to seriously and effectively implement agreements and results of recent high-level visits, including the Strategic Agreement on Vietnam-Laos Cooperation for the 2021 to 2030 period and the Agreement on Vietnam-Laos Bilateral Cooperation for the 2021 to 2025 period.

This is addition to maintaining regular high-level delegation exchanges, effectively promoting bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and boosting closer coordination in launching a range of practical activities within the framework of the "Year of Solidarity and Friendship" to celebrate major holidays between the two countries in 2022.

The leaders affirmed their resolve to continue strengthening defence, security and border cooperation so as to effectively deal with traditional and non-traditional security challenges, improve the efficiency of education - training cooperation, and develop high-quality human resources.

The two sides will continue to step up cooperation between localities, people-to-people exchanges, and trade and investment cooperation, and connect the two economies, and work together to find solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles for cooperation projects.

Regarding cooperation orientations in the coming time, they consented agreed to enhance the exchange of delegations and meetings between NA leaders and other NA committees and organizations.

Both sides will coordinate in organizing conferences and seminars to share experience in activities run by the NAs as well as in handling issues in order to ensure macroeconomic stability and develop specialized legal frameworks aimed at supporting economic recovery and development.

They will coordinate efforts in supervising and accelerating the effective implementation of cooperation agreements and plans between the two governments.

The two parliamentary leaders affirmed their sustained efforts together with ASEAN member states to constantly reinforce solidarity, unity and the central role of ASEAN, while upholding common principles, values and stance on issues directly related to regional peace and security. The two sides concurred to settle disputes in the region and the world, including the East Sea issue by peaceful means and on the basis of international law.

The two sides agreed to continue offering mutual support at international, regional and Mekong sub-regional forums, including inter-parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF).

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that the Vietnamese NA will support and assist Laos in successfully assuming the role of President of the 45th AIPA General Assembly in 2024.

After the talks, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and his Lao counterpart Saysomphone Phomvihan signed a cooperation agreement between the two legislatures for the 2022 to 2026 and witnessed the signing ceremony and the exchange of a number of cooperation documents between agencies and organizations of the two countries.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue announced the awarding of computers, projectors and cameras to the Lao National Assembly Secretariat, and computers, Vietnamese books, briefcases and some teaching and learning equipment to the Champasac Provincial Boarding School, the Friendship School and the Vietnamese Association in the four southern provinces of Laos with total value of VND5 billion.

On the occasion, the two NA Chairmen planted memorial trees in the premise of the Lao National Assembly House.

Earlier NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and his high-ranking delegation laid a wreath at the Memorial of Unknown Martyrs in Vientiane.