Along the wide and airy main road, passing famous constructions such as Victory Monument (Patuxai), the statue of King Chau Anuvong on the banks of the Mekong River to the National Assembly Building, the Presidential Palace, the Lao National Cultural Palace... are decorated with colorful flags and flowers. The sidewalks and central areas are neatly arranged and clean.
Representing the will and aspirations of the people
The 45th AIPA General Assembly takes place in the context of ASEAN continuing to give high priority to consolidating the Community building process, striving to complete the 2025 Blueprints, and building four cooperation strategies on politics-security, economics, culture-society and connectivity for the next phase based on the orientations of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, towards "a self-reliant, dynamic, innovative and people-centered ASEAN".
Many topics and contents of great importance, personal and urgent, not only for each country, but also receive the attention and follow-up of the people, with a series of national and people's livelihood issues from the breath of life discussed by leaders of countries in the agenda.
The overarching and primary concern of the countries in the region is that cooperation for development and the maintenance of peace, stability, security and prosperity remain the common goals of the people of ASEAN. These aspirations are reflected in the economic recovery efforts underway in many countries.
In the opening speech of the President of the Lao National Assembly, the President of AIPA-45 and the brief message of the heads of delegations, all agreed that: The AIPA General Assembly is an event of great significance, a forum for parliaments of ASEAN member countries to exchange views and perspectives on promoting common goals, setting future directions and taking actions to achieve the common aspirations of AIPA and ASEAN.
This is very appropriate in the context of the rapidly changing region and world, with complex and unpredictable developments, bringing both opportunities and posing unprecedented challenges for the ASEAN region as well as the international community.
The overarching and primary concern of the countries in the region is that cooperation for development and the maintenance of peace, stability, security and prosperity remain the common goals of the people of ASEAN. These aspirations are reflected in the economic recovery efforts underway in many countries.
Lao leaders and National Assembly/Parliament leaders present in Vientiane Capital all agreed that AIPA plays an important role as a legislative body representing the will and aspirations of the people of ASEAN member states with the core mission of supporting ASEAN in pursuing common goals and bringing practical benefits.
Therefore, the theme of the 45th AIPA General Assembly "The Role of Parliament in Enhancing ASEAN's Connectivity and Inclusive Growth" is close to the theme of the 2024 ASEAN Chairmanship, "ASEAN: Promoting Connectivity and Resilience", thereby enhancing the region's connectivity and resilience, promoting infrastructure development along with improvements in the legal framework in many important areas.
AIPA plays an important role in promoting cooperation within ASEAN as well as with external partners, in enacting laws, disseminating legal information, ratifying conventions and actively promoting the implementation of action plans within the framework of ASEAN cooperation.
Therefore, in the coming days, conferences and meetings of committees will take place, discussing in-depth issues on politics, socio-economics, women, youth, etc.; in addition, dialogues will also take place with parliaments that are AIPA observers. Vietnamese and foreign delegates will discuss comprehensively and constructively, resolving important issues with the highest sense of responsibility, with contents close to the thoughts and aspirations of voters and people who are expecting a lot.
A special "unique" traditional relationship
We arrived in the beautiful country of Champa just in time for the Laotian people to celebrate the end of the vegetarian festival (Bun Oc-phan-sa), one of the biggest festivals of the year. The people of the capital Vientiane were excited when the government re-organized the festival on a large scale.
On a bright moonlit night, people throng the streets to attend many trade fair activities, many restaurant chains serving unique Lao dishes, and many fun and entertainment activities imbued with local cultural identity that attract international visitors.
The three-day working schedule of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, who led the Vietnamese National Assembly delegation to officially visit Laos for the first time and attended AIPA-45 in his new position, achieved many good results. The official visit to the friendly country most clearly demonstrated the special "unique" traditional relationship with Laos, always standing side by side and strongly and comprehensively supporting the cause of innovation, protection and construction of the friendly country.
Speaking to reporters accompanying the delegation, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam said: At the meetings, the two sides informed each other about the situation of each party, each country, the activities of the two National Assemblies, and the world and regional situations of mutual concern.
The two sides highly appreciated the results of cooperation between the two countries in various fields in recent times and had frank, substantive, and open exchanges, reaching high consensus on the contents of cooperation directions in the coming time on strategic issues and specific measures to effectively implement high-level agreements and treaties between the two governments.
The Chairman of the National Assembly of our country and the leaders of Laos are also very interested in implementing the cooperation agreement between the two National Assemblies to bring the relationship between the two countries into depth, effectiveness and substance, further enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation between the two National Assemblies in the coming time.
The two sides affirmed that solidarity and mutual assistance between the two Parties, two States and two National Assemblies 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 defense of each country.
"This visit once again affirms the consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam to always give the highest priority and attach importance to the special Vietnam-Laos relationship; affirms Vietnam's strong and comprehensive support for the cause of innovation, protection and construction of Laos; demonstrates the trust and closeness between the senior leaders of the two Parties, two countries as well as between the two National Assembly Chairmen" - Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam clearly stated.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/vi-su-thinh-vuong-va-loi-ich-cua-nguoi-dan-asean-post837616.html
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