Secretary of Ha Tinh provincial party committee attends welcome ceremony and talks with Lao National Assembly Chairman

Comrade Nguyen Duy Lam, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the National Assembly Deputies’ Delegation of Ha Tinh province, joined the official welcome ceremony for Lao National Assembly Chairman Sonexay Siphandone and his spouse at the National Assembly House, presided over by National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse, followed by talks.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man introduces members of the Vietnamese delegation at the welcome ceremony to the Lao National Assembly Chairman, including comrade Nguyen Duy Lam, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the National Assembly Deputies’ Delegation of Ha Tinh province.

Comrade Nguyen Duy Lam, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the National Assembly Deputies’ Delegation of Ha Tinh province, shakes hands with Lao National Assembly Chairman Sonexay Siphandone.

On November 3, the official welcome ceremony for Lao National Assembly Chairman Sonexay Siphandone and his spouse took place solemnly at the National Assembly House, presided over by National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse. After the ceremony, the two National Assembly Chairmen held talks.

Comrade Nguyen Duy Lam, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the National Assembly Deputies’ Delegation of Ha Tinh province, joined the welcome ceremony and attended the talks.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man warmly welcomed National Assembly Chairman Sonexay Siphandone on his official visit to Vietnam, and congratulated him on being trusted by the Party, State and people of Laos to be elected Chairman of the 10th-tenure Lao National Assembly.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the talks with Lao National Assembly Chairman Sonexay Siphandone. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized that the first official overseas visit by Sonexay Siphandone in his new capacity vividly demonstrates the special attachment and trust between the two Parties, the two States and the two National Assemblies of Vietnam and Laos, contributing to consolidating political trust, strengthening cooperation between the two legislative bodies and promoting the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic connectivity between Vietnam and Laos.

An overview of the talks.

Discussing the situation in each country, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man congratulated the Party, State and fraternal people of Laos on the important and comprehensive achievements they have made over more than 50 years, especially after 40 years of implementing the renewal process, as well as on the positive results in implementing the Resolution of the 12th Party Congress and the 10th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan, maintaining political stability, ensuring national defense and security, promoting economic growth, improving people’s living standards and enhancing the country’s position.

Members of the Vietnamese delegation at the talks.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and gives the highest priority to preserving and nurturing the special Vietnam – Laos relationship, and expressed deep gratitude for the wholehearted and sincere support and assistance of the Party, State, National Assembly and people of Laos to Vietnam in its past struggle for national liberation as well as in the cause of national construction and defense today.

Lao National Assembly Chairman Sonexay Siphandone thanked the leaders of the Party, State and National Assembly of Vietnam for their solemn and thoughtful reception; expressed his delight at paying his first official visit to Vietnam in his new capacity; and affirmed that the Party, State and people of Laos always remember and cherish Vietnam’s sincere and wholehearted support and assistance in their past struggle for national liberation as well as in the cause of national construction, defense and development today. The Lao National Assembly Chairman highly appreciated Vietnam’s great development achievements and expressed his belief that Vietnam will continue to develop rapidly and sustainably and enhance its position in the international arena.

Lao National Assembly Chairman Sonexay Siphandone speaks at the talks. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

The two National Assembly Chairmen expressed their delight at the positive developments in Vietnam – Laos relations in recent times, and agreed to continue to closely coordinate and effectively implement high-level agreements, bilateral cooperation documents and the Vietnam – Laos Cooperation Strategy for the 2021–2030 period.

The two sides stressed the need to increase delegation exchanges and contacts at high and other levels, make effective use of existing cooperation mechanisms, and step up communication and education on the special solidarity tradition between Vietnam and Laos, especially among the younger generations of the two countries.

An overview of the talks. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

The two National Assembly Chairmen held in-depth discussions on their work since the beginning of the tenure and the key tasks for 2027 of each National Assembly, and highly appreciated the important results that each National Assembly has achieved in recent times in law-making, concretizing the new policies, orientations and requirements set out in the documents of the Central Committee and meeting new practical requirements in national development.

The two National Assembly Chairmen also highly appreciated the results of their coordination in recent times, especially the maintenance of delegation exchanges and the sharing of experience in law-making, supervision and decision-making on important national issues, as well as coordination at regional and international parliamentary forums. The two sides emphasized that parliamentary cooperation is an important pillar in the overall Vietnam – Laos relationship, playing a role in consolidating the legal foundation, supervising the implementation of high-level agreements, helping concretize the policies, orientations and agreements of the senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries, and supporting each other’s development.

The two high-level delegations pose for a commemorative photo.

The two leaders agreed to further promote cooperation between the two National Assemblies; strengthen the exchange of experience in building and improving the legal system, organizing the state apparatus and the operation of local governments, as well as in supervising the implementation of high-level agreements and key programs and projects between the two countries; and step up cooperation in digital transformation, building an e-National Assembly and applying new technologies in parliamentary activities. The two sides also agreed to review the Cooperation Agreement between the two National Assemblies signed in May 2022 and update its cooperation contents to suit development requirements in the new period, for consideration and signing in 2027.

The two National Assembly Chairmen emphasized continuing to strengthen coordination in supervision and accompanying the two Governments in effectively implementing signed agreements; creating strong and breakthrough changes in economic, trade and investment cooperation commensurate with the potential and special political relationship between the two countries; creating favorable conditions for businesses of the two countries to expand investment and business activities and promptly removing difficulties and obstacles in implementing cooperation projects, especially in fields of strategic significance for connecting the two economies; improving the effectiveness of cooperation in education and training, human resource development, science and technology, health care, culture and people-to-people exchanges; and continuing to pay attention to training Lao officials and students in Vietnam, thereby helping to consolidate a solid social foundation for bilateral relations.

The two leaders agreed to continue close coordination at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums such as the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and other appropriate mechanisms; strengthen information exchange and consultation on positions regarding issues of mutual concern, making active contributions to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world; and jointly promote meetings and exchanges between the senior leaders of the three Parties and between the National Assembly leaders of the three countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, contributing to strengthening solidarity, cooperation and development in the region.

The two National Assembly Chairmen agreed to coordinate in preparing well for activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam – Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 2027.

The two leaders expressed their belief that the visit will create momentum for increasingly profound, practical and effective cooperation between the two National Assemblies, contributing to the effective implementation of agreements between the two Parties and the two States. National Assembly Chairman Sonexay Siphandone affirmed that Laos will continue to preserve and nurture the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic connectivity between Laos and Vietnam, and respectfully invited National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to pay an official visit to Laos at a convenient time.

After the talks, National Assembly Chairman Sonexay Siphandone and his delegation observed a sitting of the 2nd session of the 16th National Assembly of Vietnam.

On the evening of the same day, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga hosted a solemn banquet for Lao National Assembly Chairman Sonexay Siphandone and his spouse Vandara Siphandone on the occasion of their official visit to Vietnam.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse host a banquet for Lao National Assembly Chairman Sonexay Siphandone and his spouse. Photo: quochoi.vn