On the occasion of Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man leading a high-level delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly on an official visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic and attending the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45) from October 17 to 19, 2024, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos, Nguyen Minh Tam, gave an interview to the Vietnamese press stationed in Laos.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam.

Reporter: Dear Ambassador, what is the significance of the first official visit to Laos in the capacity of Chairman of the National Assembly by Tran Thanh Man and participation in AIPA for Vietnam-Laos relations?

Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam: This is the first official visit to Laos by Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man in his new capacity, aimed at concretizing the Agreement between the senior leaders of the two Parties and the two countries of Vietnam and Laos. This affirms the consistent policy of the Vietnamese Party and State to always prioritize and emphasize the development of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos; while enhancing the trust and closeness between the senior leaders of the two countries; evaluating the cooperation results between the two Parties and two countries, especially the cooperation between the two National Assemblies in recent times; discussing directions and specific measures to further enhance the effectiveness of cooperation between the two countries and two National Assemblies in the time to come; and exchanging views on some prominent regional and global situations of mutual interest.

This official visit occurs just before the 45th AIPA General Assembly, which Laos hosts, not only serving as a good opportunity to further strengthen strategic trust and expand parliamentary cooperation between the two countries but also reflecting the continued implementation of the proactive and positive policy of comprehensive and deep international integration, enhancing multilateral diplomacy; affirming the role of the Vietnamese National Assembly in actively and substantially contributing to the content of AIPA; supporting Laos in its role as AIPA Chair; along with AIPA member parliaments strengthening solidarity and the central role of ASEAN, and promoting relations between AIPA and its partners.

The Chairman of the National Assembly, Tran Thanh Man, met with the General Secretary and President of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith, during the latter's state visit to Vietnam in September 2024. 

Furthermore, it will enhance the relationship between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the AIPA member and observer parliaments; exchange and share information with legislators from other countries on common regional concerns for peace, cooperation, and development, as well as parliamentary activities; thereby also sharing about our Party and State's policies and guidelines, and the National Assembly's activities in significantly contributing to the recovery and socio-economic development of the country.

Reporter: In the current context of regional and global situations, what should the National Assemblies of Vietnam and Laos do to maintain and further develop the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos, making it deeper, more effective, and bringing practical benefits to both countries? According to you, what areas of cooperation should the two National Assemblies focus on to further promote relations?

Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam: Alongside the favorable development of the relations between the two Parties and two countries, cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Lao National Assembly is continuously strengthened and developed. The two sides have maintained close, synchronous, and effective cooperation, contributing significantly to the overall relationship between the two countries. They actively coordinate to implement the Cooperation Agreement between the two National Assemblies.

In the context of rapidly changing, complex, and unpredictable global and regional situations profoundly impacting countries, including Vietnam and Laos, the solidarity and mutual assistance between the two Parties, two States, and the National Assemblies of Vietnam and Laos are objective factors, historical rules, and among the greatest sources of strength, vital for each country's mission to build and defend the homeland, contributing to preserving and developing the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

In the time to come, the two National Assemblies need to continue focusing on closely coordinating and exchanging experiences in legislative work, supreme oversight, and deciding on important national issues. This includes focusing on monitoring and facilitating the effective implementation of high-level agreements and cooperation treaties between the two countries, especially key tasks in the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Strategy for the period 2021-2030 and the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Agreement for the period 2021-2025.

The two sides should also continue organizing conferences and workshops to exchange experiences on the activities of the National Assembly, including National Assembly sessions, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Ethnic Council, National Assembly agencies, delegations, and National Assembly deputies regarding cooperative contents of mutual interest, to provide counsel to the National Assembly, effectively applying it in practical work.

Enhancing exchanges between Friendship Parliamentarians Groups, Women National Assembly Deputies Groups, Young National Assembly Deputies Groups, and exchanging delegations of People's Councils at provincial and centrally-run city levels, especially among provinces sharing a border and provinces that have established sisterly relations.

Another strategic issue is to strengthen cooperation in training and developing high-quality human resources, focusing on nurturing management staff of the two National Assemblies. Moreover, the two sides will continue to closely cooperate, support each other, and exchange positions on international and regional issues at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums such as: IPU, AIPA, APPF, APF..., thereby enhancing each country's status and role in the region and globally.

In particular, the two 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 and Development” to widely propagate and raise awareness among the people of both countries about the close relationship between the two National Assemblies, helping the people of both countries understand more deeply the special Vietnam-Laos relationship.

I believe that Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man's official visit to Laos and participation in the 45th AIPA General Assembly will be successful, contributing to strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, two States, two National Assemblies, and the peoples of both countries, making Vietnam-Laos cooperation a rare and exemplary relationship in the world.