National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue welcomes Saysomphone Phomvihane, Politburo member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Chairman of the National Assembly (L). Photo: NA

Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Xaysomphone Phomvihane left Hanoi on December 8 afternoon, successfully concluding his official visit to Vietnam from Dec. 6-8 at the invitation of NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, reported NDO.

Within the visit's framework, the two countries’ top legislators held talks, witnessed the handover of medical equipment worth USD 1.1 billion granted by the Vietnamese NA to its Lao counterpart, and co-chaired a seminar on exchanging experience between the two legislative bodies.

He paid courtesy visits to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien, among others.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Do Van Chien on December 7 met with Chairman of the Lao NA Xaysomphone Phomvihane, who is on an official visit to Vietnam. Photo: VNA

Both sides agreed that the political-diplomatic partnership between the two countries has been strengthened through all channels. Bilateral collaboration in defence, security, trade, investment, energy, transport connectivity, education and training, Covid-19 prevention and control, as well as cooperation among localities have been fostered as well.

They shared their delight at the growing comprehensive cooperation between the two legislatures over the year. They stressed the need to sketch out collaboration orientations in the future to lay the foundation for the consideration of the signing of a new a cooperation agreement, focusing on the implementation of major tasks set in the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Strategy for the 2021-2030 period and the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Agreement in the 2021-2025 period.

The leaders agreed to continue to promote the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia tripartite collaboration on the Development Triangle with thematic workshops on at the NA committee level. They concurred to suggest the Cambodian Senate and NA consider the organisation of an in-person meeting among the top legislators of the three countries if necessary.

Both sides also agreed to jointly hold activities to mark the 60th anniversary of the Vietnam-Laos diplomatic relations, 45 years of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation as well as the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship Year in 2022.

Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Xaysomphone Phomvihane (front, wearing glasses) visit the Que Lam Biotech fertilizer plant in Vinh Phuc province on December 7. Photo: VNA

On this occasion, the Lao NA leader paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum, and paid a working visit to Que Lam group, a leading organic fertilizer maker based in Binh Xuyen district, the northern province of Vinh Phuc.

A delegation of the Central Committee of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association led by its President Tran Van Tuy, also paid a courtesy visit to Chairman Phomvihane.

Despite suffering the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic, closer cooperation between the two countries' National Assemblies 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.

During a banquet for Lao high-ranking delegation on Dec. 6, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung has presented VND 5 billion (USD 217,000) in support of Laos’ fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong Pushes for Stronger Vietnam – Laos Ties Vietnam strongly and comprehensively supports Laos’ renovation, said General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Top Lao Legislator Applauds Vietnam-Laos Friendly Bonds Xaysomphone Phomvihane, Politburo member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Chairman of the National Assembly receives the delegation of the Vietnam - Laos ...

Vietnam-Laos Trade Turnover Sustained Despite Covid-19 Vietnam's National Assembly Chairman held talks with his visiting Lao counterpart Xaysomphone Phomvihane in Hanoi on Dec. 6.