VNA reported that at 2:00 p.m. on October 17, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man led a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly to the capital Vientiane, beginning 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 17-19.
This is the first official visit of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man as head of the legislature to the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
The visit is the concretization of the High-level Agreement between the two Politburoes at the Meeting between the two Politburoes of Vietnam and Laos and the Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement within the framework of the State visit of General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith to Vietnam (September 2024) and the State visit of President To Lam to Laos (July 2024).
The visit once again affirms 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; affirms Vietnam's strong and comprehensive support for the cause of innovation, protection and construction of Laos; and at the same time demonstrates the trust and closeness between the two countries' senior leaders as well as between the Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Chairman of the National Assembly of Laos.
During the visit, the National Assembly Chairman is expected to hold talks with National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane; pay a courtesy call to Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith; meet with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and many other important meetings and contacts.
The two sides will discuss and agree on cooperation directions in the coming time to deepen the Vietnam-Laos relationship, making it more effective and practical, especially further enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation between the two National Assemblies, and exchanging and coordinating stances on a number of regional and international strategic issues of mutual concern.
The participation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly in AIPA-45 is of great significance, on the one hand demonstrating the proactive, active participation and responsible contribution of the Vietnamese National Assembly and the parliaments of member countries to consolidate the central role, solidarity and unity in ASEAN, promote intra-bloc cooperation, expand multi-faceted relations with parliaments in and outside the region; promote the responsibility and role of AIPA for peace, stability and development, and at the same time put forward many valuable initiatives to share and support the Governments of ASEAN countries in resolving priority issues of the region.
Based on the general theme of the General Assembly, issues of concern to Vietnam, in line with regional trends, Vietnam plans to propose 4 initiatives/resolutions at the AIPA Young Parliamentarians' Conference, the Social Committee, the AIPA Women Parliamentarians' Conference, and the Economic Committee.
The Vietnamese delegation also considered co-sponsoring six resolutions, including five proposed by Laos and one proposed by Indonesia, Laos and Malaysia.
