NA Chairman begins official visit to Laos, attendance at AIPA-45
VOV.VN - National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his delegation on October 17 afternoon arrived in Vientiane, starting an official visit to Laos and attendance at the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45) from October 17 to October 19 at the invitation of Chairman of the Lao NA Saysomphone Phomvihane.
Those welcoming the top Vietnamese legislator and his entourage include Vice Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Sommad Pholsena, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee
Vice Chairman of the Lao Foreign Affairs Committee Vandee Butthasavong; Deputy Secretary General of the National Assembly Akhom Praseut; Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam alongside embassy staff, overseas Vietnamese community representatives among others.
In recent times, political trust between Vietnam and Laos has been strengthened, while political - foreign affairs, defence - security cooperation has been maintained closely and effectively.
Economic, trade, investment, cultural, educational and training cooperation has seen new positive developments. Especially, plenty of difficulties, shortcomings and inadequacies in key cooperation projects between the two countries have been gradually resolved through working trips and agreements between high-ranking leaders of the two countries, in the spirit of major orientations agreed upon by the Politburo of both nations.
Immediately after his arrival in Vientiane, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man will have talks with his Lao counterpart Saysomphone Phomvihane and witness a signing ceremony of cooperation agreements.
Also during this official visit, the top Vietnamese NA leader will pay a courtesy call to General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith; meet with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and hold many other important meetings and contacts.
The two sides will discuss and agree on cooperation directions in the coming time to deepen the bilateral relationship, making it more effective and practical, especially further enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation between the two legislatures, while exchanging and coordinating stances on a number of regional and international strategic issues of shared concern.
This is Man’s first official visit to Laos in his capacity as the top legislator. The visit is designed to concretise the high-level agreement between the two Politburos and the Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement, following the state visit to Vietnam by Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith in September, and the state visit to Laos by Vietnamese State President To Lam in July.
The trip reaffirms the Vietnamese Party and State’s unwavering policy of giving top priority to and treasuring the development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. It underlines Vietnam's strong and comprehensive support for Laos in its renewal process, national construction and defence, while demonstrating the trust and close ties between leaders of the two countries.
The attendance of the top Vietnamese legislator and his delegation in AIPA-45 shows the proactive and responsible engagement of the Vietnamese NA alongside the parliaments of member nations.
This engagement aims to reinforce ASEAN's centrality, unity and solidarity, step up intra-regional cooperation, and expand all-around ties with parliaments both inside and outside the region.
The goal is to promote AIPA's responsibility and role in ensuring peace, stability, and development, while introducing valuable initiatives to support ASEAN governments in dealing with regional priorities.
Besides, the engagement of the Vietnamese NA will also serve as a testament to the nation’s support for Laos as it undertakes significant international responsibilities in 2024, including its role as ASEAN and AIPA Chair and the successful hosting of AIPA-45.
