Vietnamese, Lao NA leaders hold talks in Vientiane

Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (L) and his Lao counterpart Saysomphone Phomvihane in Vientiane on December 4 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with his Lao counterpart Saysomphone Phomvihane in Vientiane on December 4 as part of Hue’s trip to Laos for the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) Parliamentary Summit.

The two sides briefed each other on the situation in their respective countries, the cooperation between the two countries recently, and the outcomes of the sixth session of the 9th NA of Laos and the six session of the 15th NA of Vietnam.

The top legislator of Laos lauded the great and comprehensive achievements that Vietnam has gained amid the complicated regional and world situation, and told his Vietnamese counterpart that Laos has step by step tackled economic difficulties and reined in inflation.

Hue hailed Laos’ preparation for the CLV Parliamentary Summit slated for December 5-6 and sidelines activities, asserting that the summit carries significant meaning, marking the completion of the meeting mechanisms among the three countries in all channels of Party, parliament and Government.

He spoke highly of the topics, contents and documents prepared for the first CLV Parliamentary Summit, and praised the chairmanship of Laos, saying that Vietnam can learn this experience from Laos to host the next editions of the summit.

An overview of the talks between Vietnamese and Lao NA leaders in Vientiane on December 4 (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese NA leader affirmed that Vietnam always gives highest priority to the great traditional relations between the two countries, and always stands by and strongly and comprehensively supports Laos’ national construction and reform.

The two leaders shared delight at the positive results in cooperation between the two countries recently, especially between the two NAs.

They concurred to continue maintaining high-level visits and meetings as well as cooperation mechanisms in all channels, including the NA channel, while working closely together to create a favourable legal corridor for the two Governments to implement reached agreements, strengthening the supervision over bilateral collaboration agreements, and speeding up the progress of major joint projects of the two countries.

NA Chairman Hue underlined the need for the two NAs to build necessary institutions and laws to make breakthroughs in Vietnam-Laos economic and trade partnership.

The two leaders showed pleasure at the opening of a direct air route linking Ho Chi Minh City and Vientiane from early 2024 with four return flights per week.

They pledged to continue fostering parliamentary cooperation by exchanging experience in law building, institution and legal system completion, while coordinating closely in supervising the realisation of high-level agreements between the two countries and preparing for important activities between senior leaders of the two sides.

They also agreed to strengthen solidarity, coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums, especially the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF).

Hue vowed that the Vietnamese NA supports and is willing to provide maximum support to Laos to perform the role of ASEAN Chair and AIPA Chair in 2024.

Earlier the same day, NA Chairman Hue and the high-level NA delegation laid a wreath at a monument dedicated to Laos' unknown martyrs./.