Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam. Photo: Xuan Tu/VNA reporter in Laos

Dear Ambassador, how important and meaningful is the first official visit to Laos as Chairman of the National Assembly of Comrade Tran Thanh Man and his participation in AIPA for the Vietnam - Laos relationship?

This is the first official visit of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to the Lao PDR in his new position to concretize the Agreement between the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and the two countries of Vietnam and Laos, affirming the consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam to always give the highest priority and attach importance to developing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos; at the same time, enhancing the trust and attachment between the high-ranking leaders of the two countries; assessing the results of cooperation between the two Parties and the two countries, especially cooperation between the two National Assemblies in the past time; exchanging directions and specific measures to further improve the effectiveness of cooperation between the two countries and the two National Assemblies in the coming time; discussing some outstanding situations in the region and the world of mutual interest to both sides.

This official visit, taking place right before the 45th AIPA General Assembly, hosted by Laos, is not only a good opportunity to further strengthen strategic trust and expand parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, but also demonstrates the continued implementation of the policy of proactively and actively integrating comprehensively and extensively into the international community, raising the level of multilateral diplomacy; affirming the role of the Vietnamese National Assembly, proactively and actively contributing substantially to the content of AIPA; supporting Laos in its role as AIPA Chair; working with AIPA member parliaments to strengthen solidarity and the central role of ASEAN, promote relations between AIPA and partners; strengthen relations between the Vietnamese National Assembly and AIPA member parliaments and observers; exchange and share information with parliamentarians of other countries on common regional concerns for peace, cooperation and development, and parliamentary activities; thereby also sharing the guidelines and policies of our Party and State, the activities of the National Assembly in making important contributions to the recovery and socio-economic development of the country.

Dear Ambassador, in the context of the current regional and world situation, what should the National Assemblies of Vietnam and Laos do to preserve and develop the special Vietnam-Laos relationship to become more in-depth, more effective and bring practical benefits to the two countries? What areas of cooperation should the National Assemblies of the two countries focus on to promote bilateral relations?

Along with the positive development of the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries, the cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Lao National Assembly has been constantly consolidated and developed. The two sides have maintained close, synchronous and effective cooperation, making an important contribution to the overall relationship between the two countries. The two sides have actively coordinated to implement the Cooperation Agreement between the two National Assemblies.

In the context of the world and regional situation continuing to have rapid, complicated and unpredictable developments, deeply affecting countries, including Vietnam and Laos, the solidarity and mutual assistance between the two Parties, two States, two National Assemblies of Vietnam and Laos is an objective factor, a historical law, one of the greatest sources of strength and of vital significance to the cause of national construction and protection of each country, contributing to preserving and developing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

In the coming time, the National Assemblies of the two countries will need to continue to focus on close coordination, exchange of experiences in legislative work, supreme supervision, and decision-making on important issues of the country. In particular, focusing on monitoring and facilitating the effective implementation of High-level Agreements, Agreements, and cooperation agreements between the two countries, especially the key tasks in the Vietnam - Laos Cooperation Strategy for the period 2021-2030, the Vietnam - Laos Cooperation Agreement for the period 2021-2025. Continue to organize conferences and seminars to exchange experiences in the fields of activities of the National Assembly, including National Assembly Sessions, the National Assembly Standing Committee, the National Assembly Council, National Assembly agencies, National Assembly delegations and National Assembly deputies on cooperation contents of mutual interest, in order to advise the National Assembly and effectively apply them to practical work. Strengthen exchanges between the Friendship Parliamentarians Group, the Women National Assembly Delegates Group, the Young National Assembly Delegates Group, and exchange delegations of People's Councils at the provincial and municipal levels, especially those of the provinces sharing the border and those with sister-country relations between the two countries. Another strategic issue is to strengthen cooperation in training and developing high-quality human resources, focusing on training management staff of the two National Assemblies. In addition, the two sides will continue to closely coordinate, support each other, and exchange positions on international and regional issues at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums such as the IPU, AIPA, APPF, APF, etc., thereby enhancing the position and role of each country in the region and the world. In particular, the two countries' National Assemblies are actively coordinating to research, compile and publish the book "50 years of relations between the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the National Assembly of the Lao People's Democratic Republic - Comprehensive cooperation for development" to widely disseminate and raise awareness of the people of the two countries about the close relationship between the two National Assemblies, contributing to helping the people of the two countries have a deeper understanding of the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

I believe that the official visit to Laos and attendance at the 45th AIPA General Assembly by National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man will be a great success, contributing to consolidating and enhancing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, two States, two National Assemblies and peoples of the two countries, making the Vietnam-Laos cooperative relationship continue to become a rare exemplary relationship in the world.

Thank you Ambassador!

According to baotintuc.vn