Sounthone Xayachak, Vice President of the Lao National Assembly. — VNA/VNS Photos

VIENTIANE — Laos highly values the attendance of Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn and a delegation of the Vietnamese NA at the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45), especially his insightful speech at the event, said Vice President of the Lao National Assembly Sounthone Xayachak.

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Vientiane following Mẫn’s Laos trip for an official visit and attendance at AIPA-45 that took place from October 17-19, Xayachak said that in his speech at the AIPA-45, Mẫn highly valued the Lao NA's organisation of the event as well as achievements of ASEAN-AIPA cooperation and raised proposals on major priority directions to promote parliaments’ role in strengthening ASEAN’s connectivity.

She noted that the top Vietnamese legislator also made remarks that contributed to raising the importance of implementing international law, the implementation of Vision 2025 of all ASEAN countries; increasing the effectiveness of cooperation in natural disaster prevention; continuing to develop cooperation in various fields, to make ASEAN stronger, and become a leading force in cooperation as well as keep ASEAN growing.

She affirmed that the participation and contribution of the top Vietnamese legislator and the Vietnamese NA delegation at the AIPA-45 significantly led to the success of the event.

She hoped that Việt Nam would continue to cooperate closely with AIPA member countries, making AIPA increasingly stronger.

Meanwhile, Boviengkham Vongdara, President of the Laos-Việt Nam Friendship Association, said that Mẫn's official visit to Laos and attendance at AIPA-45 demonstrates that Vietnamese leaders always attach great importance to traditional cooperation between the two countries.

Boviengkham Vongdara, President of the Laos-Việt Nam Friendship Association.

Mutual visits and bilateral meetings at multilateral forums by leaders of Laos and Việt Nam are good opportunities for leaders of both sides to exchange ideas, promptly direct their ministries, agencies, and organisations to implement the guidelines and policies of the two countries that aim to realise cooperation programmes between the two Parties, two States, two Governments, and people of the two countries.

The official visit to Laos by Mẫn took place right before the AIPA-45 and after the 44th-45th ASEAN Summits which Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính attended. This shows that the regular meetings of Lao and Vietnamese leaders have contributed significantly to tightening and enhancing cooperation between the two countries. — VNA/VNS