Vietnamese top legislator holds talks with Lao counterpart

The two top legislators expressed their pleasure to witness the growing ties between the two countries and two legislative bodies.  

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Viet Nam and Laos have maintained growth of trade and investment. In the first four months of 2022, bilateral trade hit US$ 558.2 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 20.2 percent. Viet Nam remains the third largest investor in Laos with 214 valid projects capitalized US$ 5.33 billion. 

The two sides agreed to work together to effectively implement the agreements and outcomes of the recent high-level visits, including the Viet Nam-Laos cooperation strategy for 2021-2030 and the agreement on bilateral cooperation for 2021-2025. 

They were also unanimous in maintaining the exchange of high-ranking delegations and jointly hosting meaningful activities within the “Viet Nam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year”. 

The two sides agreed to maintain the tradition of close coordination and mutual support at international, regional and Mekong sub-regional forums, including inter-parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (AIPA), Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), Francophone Parliamentary Union (APF) and so on. 

Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that the Vietnamese National Assembly supports Laos in performing its role as the Chari of AIPA 45 in 2024.

After talks, the two top legislators signed the cooperative agreement between the National Assembly of Viet Nam and the National Assembly of Laos for the period 2022-2026.

They also witnessed a signing ceremony of other cooperative documents between the Viet Nam Ethnic Council and the Lao Ethnic Committee; the Office of the National Assembly of VietNam and the Office of the National Assembly of Laos, the Vietnamese Government Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs and the Lao Front for national construction, and working minutes on electricity procurement from Laos.

Cementing close-knit Viet Nam-Laos relations 

The same day, Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue paid a courtesy call on General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.

Vuong and Sisoulith spoke highly of the development of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos, with important contributions from the two legislative bodies.

The two sides need to promote traditional cooperation and trust to seriously implement high-level agreements together; boost the efficiency of bilateral cooperation in all fields, for the practical benefits of the two peoples; promote together and find solutions to effectively deal with obstacles of important cooperation projects, particularly infrastructure connection projects.

They also agreed to coordinate to organise activities in 2022 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between the two countries and 45 years of the signing of the Viet Nam - Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.  

The Vietnamese top legislator and his entourage arrived in Vientiane on May 15 for a three-day visit at the invitation of President of the Lao National Assembly Xaysomphone Phomvihane. 

The visit is of significant importance as Viet Nam and Laos are set to organize Solidarity and Friendship Year to mark the 60th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties of the two countries (September 5) and 45 years of the signing of the Laos - Viet Nam Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (July 18)./.