HÀ NỘI – Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng on Saturday urged the Vietnamese and Lao parliaments to step up sharing of experiences in their major tasks.

The National Assemblies of Việt Nam and Laos as well as their committees should enhance co-operation, especially in the sharing of experience in making laws, supervising the executive and facilitating decisions on important issues, he said at a reception for visiting Lao NA Chairwoman Pany Yathotou in Hà Nội.

Trọng said the two legislative bodies should direct ministries, sectors, localities and businesses of  both nations to implement Việt Nam-Laos joint statements, agreements reached by the leaders of both Parties and States, and other co-operation programmes. 

He also urged both parliaments to work closely on organising activities celebrating the Việt Nam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017, and educating people from all walks of life, especially the youth, on the special, comprehensive ties of solidarity that the two nations enjoy.

Pany Yathotou congratulated Việt Nam on its recent achievements, and stressed her belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Việt Nam, the Vietnamese people will record newer and greater achievements in the country’s Đổi mới (renewal) process. 

She briefed Trọng on the development situation in Laos and the outcomes of talks between the two legislatures, as well as recent co-operation activities. She affirmed that the Lao NA will closely coordinate with its Vietnamese counterpart to facilitate implementation of agreements reached between the two nations’ leaders. 

Both sides expressed pleasure at the achievements of their Parties and States, and the flourishing of bilateral ties in many areas. 

They affirmed their determination to maintain, nurture and further promote bilateral relations in the future. 

Later the same day, Pany Yathotou wrapped up a four-day visit to Việt Nam during which she attended activities celebrating the 55th anniversary of  Việt Nam-Laos diplomatic ties and 40 years of the signing of the Việt Nam-Laos Amity and Co-operation Treaty. 

She held working sessions with officials of Sơn Lad, and met with Lao students studying in the locality. 

On Friday, the Lao top legislator and her Vietnamese counterpart Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân co-chaired a workshop on the role of people’s councils in making decisions and supervising land-related issues on Friday. 

Yathotou also attended the opening ceremony of the second culture, sports and tourism festival at the Việt Nam-Laos border area, the inauguration ceremony of the Việt Nam-Laos revolutionary historical relic site, and various other activities in Sơn La Province. — VNS