National Assembly Standing Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man hosts a reception for his visiting Lao counterpart Sommad Pholsena, who also serves as Chairman of the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity, in Hanoi on October 5. Photo: daibieunhandan.vn

The Vietnamese Party, State and National Assembly (NA) will provide the best conditions for people’s organizations of Vietnam to boost friendship and cooperation with their Lao counterparts, said NA Standing Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man on October 5.

Man made the statement while meeting his visiting Lao counterpart Sommad Pholsena, who also serves as Chairman of the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity, in Hanoi, VNA reported.

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and its members – the Vietnam Peace Committee and the Vietnam – Laos Friendship Association have closely coordinated with those of Laos to host various meaningful activities, he noted, adding that both sides have also offered active support to each other at multilateral people-to-people forums, contributing to reinforcing the long-standing ties between the two countries.

He urged the Vietnam Peace Committee and the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity to come up with more practical and specific cooperation programs and to educate younger generations of Vietnam and Laos on the two countries’ special traditional friendship and their major joint events.

Photo: daibieunhandan.vn

Pholsena, for his part, updated his host on the outcomes of the meeting between the two committees, saying the two sides share deep awareness of their important roles in diplomacy and people-to-people exchange.

Agreeing with Man’s proposal, he pledged Laos will continue promoting education on and nurturing bilateral ties. Laos will also step up a cultural exchange, trade, and tourism promotion with Vietnam and work with its neighbor to address war aftermaths and take mine action.

During the meeting, NA Vice Chairman Man also highlighted the growing partnership between the two countries’ legislatures after the visit of Lao NA Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane to Vietnam in December 2021 and that of top Vietnamese legislator Vuong Dinh Hue to Laos in May 2022, noting that progress of investment projects has been accelerated.

Obstacles to the two countries’ economic cooperation have been actively removed thanks to concerted efforts of the two NAs and Governments, he said.

At the meeting between the Vietnam Peace Committee and the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity. Source: VNT

The same day, Chairman of the Vietnam Peace Committee Uong Chu Luu held talks with visiting Vice Chairman of the Lao National Assembly and Chairman of the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity Sommad Pholsena, during which the two sides discussed ways to advance ties.

They updated each other on the socio-economic development of their countries, and exchanged views on regional and global issues as well as their cooperation.

Vietnam attaches importance to partnership between the two committees, said Luu who is former NA Vice Chairman. The two sides have been active contributors to the close and loyal friendship between Vietnam and Laos, he noted, adding that they have exchanged delegations annually, ramped up communications, and closely coordinated in promoting people-to-people exchange activities.

He suggested the two committees play a more active role to make the bilateral cooperation more diverse, practical and effective on the occasion of the Vietnam – Laos, Laos – Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity Year 2022.

The committees should not only maintain high-level delegation exchanges but also strengthen collaboration and support for each other in people-to-people diplomacy activities, such as the World Social Forum, Asia – Europe People’s Forum and ASEAN People’s Forum, the official continued

The Vietnam Peace Committee (VPC) and the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity (LCPS) are hoping to tighten their cooperative ties and contribute to the maintenance of peace, and stability in the region. Source: VNT

He emphasized that the two sides have been closely working together within the framework of the World Peace Council (WPC), particularly to prepare for the 22nd WPC Assembly to be hosted by Vietnam this November.

They are looking into the possibility of jointly conducting multiple projects on addressing war aftermaths and mine actions and promoting Vietnamese culture and tourism in Laos and vice versa, Luu unveiled.

Pholsena, for his part, pledged that the Lao side will further educate its people on the special friendship between the two countries and better preserve the long-standing ties while accelerating bilateral cultural exchange, trade, and tourism promotion.

He said he hopes the two sides will conduct more activities to boost people-to-people exchange in the coming time.

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