National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn meets with Vice President of the Lao National Assembly Sounthone Xayachack in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday. —VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

GENEVA — Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn on Wednesday received Vice President of the Lao NA Sounthone Xayachack on the sidelines of the sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (WCSP 6) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Chairman Mẫn extended his warm greetings to Lao NA President Saysomphone Phomvihane and other high-ranking leaders of the Lao Party and State.

He also conveyed the regards from Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, State President Lương Cường, and Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, to General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

Congratulating Laos on its socio-economic achievements in the first half of the year, the top Vietnamese legislator welcomed the increasingly close and effective cooperation between the two legislatures, including joint efforts in implementing the Việt Nam-Laos Joint Statement, the agreement between the two Politburos, the cooperation agreement between the two Governments, and the cooperation programme between the two NAs, contributing to deepening the special Việt Nam–Laos relationship in a stable and sustainable manner.

He also offered his sincere sympathy to the Lao people, especially local authorities and families affected by Typhoon Wipha, expressing his hope that they will soon overcome the current difficulties.

For her part, Sounthone thanked Việt Nam for its continued support and solidarity, affirming that the Lao Party, State and NA greatly value the special relationship between the two countries.

She also congratulated Việt Nam on the country’s achievements, particularly in reorganising its administrative apparatus and building a two-tier local administration system, and shared updates on Laos’s own reforms at the central level.

Both sides agreed to promote meaningful joint activities in 2025, including preparations for the upcoming visit to Việt Nam by the Lao Party General Secretary and President on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day of Việt Nam.

They committed to enhancing bilateral and multilateral parliamentary cooperation and accelerating the compilation of a commemorative book marking 50 years of ties between the two NAs. — VNA/VNS