Chairman of the Lao National Assembly led by Saysomphone Phomvihane (Photo: VNA)

A high-ranking delegation of the Lao National Assembly (NA) led by Saysomphone Phomvihane, Politburo member and NA Chairman, arrived in Hanoi on the morning of December 6, starting an official visit to Vietnam from December 6-8 at the invitation NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

This is the first overseas trip by Saysomphone Phomvihane in his capacity as head of the Lao legislative body, also the first in-person visit by a foreign legislative leader to Vietnam since the beginning of the 15th tenure of the Vietnamese legislature.

As close neighbours, the people of Vietnam and Laos have a traditional and long-lasting friendship. Bilateral cooperation has become more diverse, and been unceasingly consolidated and updated in terms of both quantity and quality, according to the VNA.

Facing the global pandemic, Vietnam was the first to send a special flight transporting medical equipment and senior experts to help Laos fight the second wave of the COVID-19.

Over the recent years, the relations between the two National Assemblies continue to be accelerated which have made important contributions to the comprehensive relationship between the two countries. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders of the two law-making bodies have been maintaining their regular contacts in flexible forms.

Vietnam and Laos have enjoyed a close-knit relationship and time-honoured friendship for years. In July 1962, both nations consented to set up bilateral diplomatic ties, marking a new milestone in their relations.

During Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Laos in February 2019, the two sides agreed to take the traditional relationship to new heights, with bilateral cooperation becoming more diverse, and incessantly being strengthened.

Regarding economic cooperation, Vietnam is now one of the top three investors in Laos. To enhance the mutual support, Laos and Vietnam are currently speeding up economic and transport connectivity projects, while cooperation in education and training remains a priority area, said the VOV.

To help the neighbouring country boost sustainable development, Vietnam has been providing assistance to Lao in key projects on building schools, hospitals and roads. A typical case in point is that on August 10, 2021, Vietnam officially handed to Laos the new office of its National Assembly after four years of construction.

Chairman of the Lao National Assembly led by Saysomphone Phomvihane and a high ranking delegation of the Lao NA arrived in Hanoi on December 6 morning, starting a three-day official visit to Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

The official visit to Vietnam by Saysomphone Phomvihane manifests the special political trust and importance from the Party, State and National Assembly of Laos as well as from him personally to Vietnam and the bilateral relations.

In the coming visit, the two sides will continue pushing up the implementation of the agreement on the cooperation between the two parliaments, exchange ideas on orientations and measures to strengthen cooperation between the two countries and parliaments in the time to come; and share experience in implementing the functions of the National Assemblies in the fields of making laws, supervising and deciding on important issues of the countries.

Despite suffering the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, closer cooperation between the two countries' NAs have been maintained and increasingly practical in recent times.

Vietnam was the first to send a special flight transporting medical equipment and senior experts to help Laos combat the second wave of the COVID-19.

Furthermore the relations between the two legislative bodies have been continuing to be solidified which have made significant contributions to the comprehensive relationship between the two nations.

During the visit, the two sides will continue to fast-track the implementation of the agreement on the cooperation between the two law-making bodies, compare notes on orientations and measures to step up cooperation between the two in the time ahead, and share experience in performing the functions of the NAs in the fields of making laws, supervising and deciding on important issues of both countries, reported the VOV.

The official Vietnam visit of Lao NA Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane and his entourage not only reaffirms the consistent closeness of the great friendship, the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, but also shows that the close-kit relationship between the two legislatures has been continuing to be consolidated and prove more effective.

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