The visit of the distinguished guest "first of the year" creates momentum for Vietnam - Laos relations

PresidentNguyen Xuan PhucWarmly welcome Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh leading a high-ranking delegation of Laos to an official visit to Vietnam, believing that the visit of the distinguished guest "first in Vietnam" in the first days of 2022 will contribute to creating a new impetus to promote the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos to continuously develop in depth and become increasingly effective.

The President shared his joy at the important and comprehensive achievements that Laos has made in recent times.

Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh was delighted to make his first official visit to Vietnam in his new position and to have the opportunity to meet again with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, a comrade and close friend of the Lao leaders and people.

The Lao Prime Minister highly appreciated the important and historic achievements that the Vietnamese people have gained in recent years.

The two leaders expressed their satisfaction with the sustainable development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. In the context of the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, cooperation between the two countries has been continuously strengthened in all fields.

The two sides maintained regular high-level delegation exchanges and contacts, effectively promoting bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the Intergovernmental Committee meetings co-chaired by the two Prime Ministers. The two sides especially appreciated the sharing and mutual support between the two countries in the work of disease prevention and control in recent times; believed that both Laos and Vietnam will soon defeat the pandemic, quickly recover their economies and societies, and continue to develop sustainably.

Appreciating the results of the talks between the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Laos and the success of the launching ceremony of the "Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022", President Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized that the potential for cooperation between the two countries is still very large.

The two sides need to continue promoting the good and strong political relationship and transform those potentials and advantages into specific cooperation plans, projects and works, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries.

The two leaders agreed that the two sides need to coordinate closely and take breakthrough measures to further improve the effectiveness of cooperation, especially freeing up resources for bilateral economic cooperation; thoroughly resolving difficulties and obstacles of businesses, creating confidence for investors.

Strengthening connectivity between the two economies, making good use of free trade agreements of which the two countries are members; expanding hard infrastructure connectivity in transportation, energy, telecommunications as well as promoting soft infrastructure connectivity and digital economy, meeting new requirements of the 4.0 Industrial Revolution...

The two sides also highly appreciated the coordination and mutual support between the two countries in multilateral forums, especially within the framework of the United Nations, ASEAN and sub-regional cooperation; agreed with ASEAN countries to support Cambodia in successfully assuming the role of ASEAN Chair 2022, maintaining solidarity and the central role of ASEAN.

Give top priority to maintaining and promoting close relationships

Also on the afternoon of January 8, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue had a meeting with the Lao Prime Minister.

The two leaders affirmed that the Party, Government, National Assembly and people of the two countries always attach importance to and give the highest priority to preserving and promoting the unique, close-knit relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

The Lao National Assembly Chairman and Prime Minister were pleased to note that despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cooperation between the two countries continues to maintain its momentum of development in all channels and in all fields...

Conveying greetings from Lao National Assembly Chairman Xaysomphone Phomvihane to National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the Lao Prime Minister welcomed the close and effective cooperation between the two legislative bodies.

The two sides highly appreciated the maintenance of regular contact and exchanges between senior leaders and all levels of the two National Assemblies, including the very successful official visit to Vietnam by Lao National Assembly Chairman Xaysomphone Phomvihane in early December 2021.

The two sides also welcomed the close cooperation between the two National Assembly's specialized committees in organizing thematic seminars, sharing experiences in law-making, supporting each other in training National Assembly and People's Council deputies, and coordinating and supporting each other at multilateral parliamentary forums.

The two sides expressed their delight that the new Lao National Assembly building, a meaningful gift from the Party, State and people of Vietnam to the Party, State and people of Laos, was handed over and inaugurated in August 2021, effectively serving the activities of the Lao National Assembly, worthy of being a symbol of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.Vietnam - Laos.

Regarding the direction of cooperation in the coming time, the two sides agreed that the two countries' National Assemblies need to continue to coordinate in supervising and facilitating the effective implementation of signed agreements.

The National Assembly Chairman affirmed that in its role as the supreme legislative and supervisory body, the Vietnamese National Assembly has been and will continue to research to be ready to remove all legal and institutional difficulties, and arrange resources to promote projects, especially transport infrastructure projects connecting the two countries, connecting Laos with Vietnam's seaports, contributing to realizing the goal of Laos having access to the sea and becoming a regional integration connection center of Laos.

The two National Assemblies will increase exchanges between Friendship Parliamentary Groups, Women National Assembly Deputies Groups, Young National Assembly Deputies Groups, and exchange delegations of People's Councils at provincial and municipal levels, especially those in localities sharing borders and twinned localities. The two sides also agreed to continue to closely coordinate and support each other in the activities of the two National Assemblies, especially at regional and international parliamentary forums such as IPU, AIPA, APPF, etc.