First CLV parliamentary summit opens in Vientiane

The event, themed 'Strengthening the role of parliaments in promoting comprehensive cooperation among Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam', also drew the attendance of representatives of the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Addressing summit, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said it is the right time for the legislative bodies of three countries to consolidate political trust, friendship and solidarity.

He said that the establishment of the CLV parliamentary summit mechanism is an important milestone in the history of cooperation between the three parliaments, which will help elevate cooperation between the three legislative bodies to new heights, towards realizing the outcome of the high-level meeting of the top Party leaders of the three countries in September 2021.

He suggested that the three National Assemblies enhance cooperation in perfecting institutions and promulgating legal policies to support their Governments in socio-economic development, ensuring security and national defense.

The top Vietnamese legislator also highlited the importance of close coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums, especially the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), and ASEAN-Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), contributing to successfully building the ASEAN Community and promoting Mekong Subregion cooperation.

He asked the three parliaments to closely monitor the effective implementation of the signed documents on economic, trade and investment cooperation and launch negotiations on new cooperative agreements, in order to make a breakthrough in economic cooperation, and strengthen complementarity and connectivity between the three economies, with a prime focus on specific mechanisms and policies for the CLV Development Triangle Area.

Regarding social and cultural affairs, the Vietnamese leader suggested that the three parliaments coordinate and supervise the implementation of policies on tourism development, especially the 'three countries – one destination' model, as well as those on healthcare, education-training, cultural cooperation.

He expected that the three parliaments would continue to ask the Governments to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Lao communities to live, study, and work in each country.

Vuong emphasized the neccessity step up exchanges and cooperation with partners in such fields like the environment and water resources, especially the sustainable management and effective use of water resources of the Mekong River.

The three parliaments should encourage their governments and relevant parties to promote the implementation of global sustainable development goals and climate change adaptation.

Regarding defense and security, the top Vietnamese legislator stressed the importance of the strong mutual support between the three parliaments in maintaining stability, order and security in each country, not allowing any force to use one country's territory to act against another country.

He took the occasion to call upon the three legislatures to support the early completion of land border demarcation and border marker planting between the CLV countries./.