President Trần Đại Quang (r) receives Lao National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Sengnouane Xayalath in Hà Nội yesterday.— VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

HÀ NỘI —  President Trần Đại Quang hailed the effective partnership between Việt Nam National Assembly and its Lao counterpart as he hosted a reception for Lao National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Sengnouane Xayalath in Hà Nội yesterday.

The State leader praised Laos’ important achievements, especially in socio-economic development, defence, security and foreign affairs, which have improved living conditions for the Lao people and raised the country’s position in the region and the international arena. 
He congratulated Laos on the success of the sixth meeting of the 10th Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the fifth session of the 8th National Assembly. 
Showing his delight at the development of the Việt Nam-Laos traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, President Quang said that he was pleased at the effective partnership between the two legislative agencies through the exchange of information and experience in legislation, supervision and deciding important issues. 
The two sides have coordinated very well in their external affairs, especially at the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), the International Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), thus helping to promote peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. 
For his part, Sengnouane Xayalath briefed his host on the major outcomes of cooperation between the NAs of Việt Nam and Laos, along with orientations for the expansion of cooperation in the future and the sharing of NA supervision activities. 
The two sides had agreed on a plan to monitor and examine issues related to free migration and undocumented marriages in border localities, he said, adding that they would also review the bilateral cooperation between the two NAs and regional and international parliamentary forums. 
On the occasion, the Lao NA Vice Chairman thanked the Party, State, and NA of Việt Nam for funding the construction of a new National Assembly House for Laos, saying that the present showed the close sentiment between the two countries. 
President Quang expressed his delight at the outcomes of earlier talks between Sengnouane Xayalath and Vietnamese leaders, stressing that the agreements reached were an important foundation for Việt Nam and Laos to deepen bilateral relations. 
Agreeing to the orientations for the expansion of cooperation between the two NAs, the President said the two sides should not only step up the exchange of experiences in legislation and supervision, but also strengthen coordination at regional and international multilateral parliamentary forums. 
He suggested the two legislatures focus on enhancing supervision and facilitating investment cooperation projects to serve socio-economic development in both nations, while supporting necessary amendments to policies, mechanisms and laws to promote the bilateral partnership in trade and investment. 
The two sides should work closely together to speed up the effective implementation of a memorandum of understanding on the National Assembly House of Laos to ensure the quality and progress of the project, he said. 
President Quang asked the two sides to increase people-to-people exchanges to promote the achievements of the Việt Nam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017, while increasing communications, especially among the youth, about the loyal relations between Việt Nam and Laos, which he described as a rare relationship and an invaluable asset of both nations as well as a foundation for the two countries to thrive together. — VNS