The cooperative relationship between the legislative agencies of Vietnam and Laos is experiencing significant positive developments in both breadth and depth.

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man and Chairman of the National Assembly of Laos Saysomphone Phomvihane.

On October 17, upon arriving in Vientiane, at the Lao National Assembly building, Lao National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane hosted an official welcoming ceremony for Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Tran Thanh Man, and the high-level delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly. Right after the ceremony, the two National Assembly Chairmen held talks.

According to the National Assembly Office, during the talks, both chairmen agreed that the relationship in trade and investment cooperation between the two countries is still modest and does not match the good political relations and the potential for cooperation between the two nations.

The Lao National Assembly Chairman emphasized that Vietnam ranks among the top countries investing in Laos, with about 241 projects at various levels, totaling approximately 5.47 billion USD in investment. The Lao National Assembly Chairman urged the Vietnamese National Assembly to support efforts to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries, especially to increase bilateral trade turnover in the near future. He expressed his impression of Vietnam's achievements in agricultural development, which includes many products that bring high economic value, and hoped that Vietnam would share its experience in this field.

Agreeing with the proposal of the Lao National Assembly Chairman, Tran Thanh Man emphasized that the two countries need to strengthen cooperation in various fields, including agriculture.

The two National Assembly Chairmen were pleased to see that the cooperative relationship between the legislative agencies of the two countries is making significant progress in both breadth and depth.

The scene of the talks.

To promote cooperation between the two legislative bodies, the two National Assembly Chairmen agreed that it is necessary to continue implementing exchange activities and share experiences in areas of mutual interest, especially in building and perfecting institutions, legal systems, and overseeing major national issues.

At the same time, they will closely coordinate and jointly supervise the implementation of bilateral agreements, strengthen oversight and promote investment cooperation projects, and propose solutions to difficulties and obstacles to facilitate Vietnamese businesses' investment and business activities in Laos.

The two National Assembly Chairmen also suggested that both sides need to promote the completion of institutions and policies to facilitate the effective implementation of the high-level agreements between the two countries' Politburos and cooperation between the two governments.

Regarding Cambodia's withdrawal from the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle mechanism, both National Assembly Chairmen agreed that the mechanism has positively contributed to the development of each country and plays an important role in the history of building and developing the three countries in general and Cambodia in particular. Vietnam and Laos always cherish the historical value in the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia relationship and will continue to prioritize maintaining, nurturing, and developing friendly neighborly relations, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos and Cambodia.

Earlier, Tran Thanh Man and Saysomphone Phomvihane had a private meeting.

Immediately after the talks, Tran Thanh Man and Saysomphone Phomvihane witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lao National Assembly; and a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a friendly cooperative relationship between Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province (Vietnam) and Luang Prabang City, Luang Prabang Province (Laos).