Vietnam, Laos NA ethnic councils seek stronger cooperation

Chien lauded the Lao delegation’s visit after the success of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017 with many important activities, including celebrations of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty on Amity and Cooperation.

Briefing the Lao officials on the achievements that the Vietnamese NA Ethnic Council has gained in implementing ethnic policies, Chien highlighted the experience and coordination mechanism between the council and the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

The council’s major tasks include verifying bills and draft ordinances related to ethnic affairs, proposing draft documents and projects on ethnic issues, and supervising the implementation of laws, ordinances and resolutions of the NA and the NA Standing Committee on ethnic matters and socio-economic development plans in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups.

For her part, Buaphoune Likhaida, who is leading the Lao delegation to Vietnam from March 5-11, thanked the Vietnamese side for the warm welcome. He said that Laos has paid great attention to ethnic affairs, thus ethnic groups of the country have showed strong solidarity in national construction.

Having pointing out similarities between the Vietnamese NA’s Council for Ethnic Affairs and the Lao NA’s Committee for Ethnic Affairs, she expressed her hope to continue learning from the Vietnamese side’s experience on fostering coordination between the council and other organisations, including the Vietnam Fatherland Front and public organisations.

She also expected that the two agencies will work together to strengthen the cooperation and friendship between Laos and Vietnam.