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Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue (fifth from right), General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane and Chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Khuon Sudary pose for a group photo with other delegates at the summit.

Themed ‘Strengthening the role of parliaments in promoting comprehensive cooperation among Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam’ the gathering was also attended by representatives of the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Korean Organisation of International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

In his opening remarks, General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith appreciated the thee legislatures supporting their Governments in socio-economic development and ensuring social security in the three countries.

He emphasized that taking place in the context of complex and profound regional and international developments, the organization of the summit demonstrates the three legislatures’ strong resolve to strengthen mutual understanding, trust and cooperation between the three countries, especially in the Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV DTA), helping to narrow the development gap, reduce poverty, and spur sustainable development towards building CLV Development Triangle Area into a typical development area of the region.

He requested that the three parliaments continue to enhance their role, especially in supervising and promoting cooperation projects among the three countries and between the three countries and the international community.

Taking the floor, Chairman of the Laos National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane noted that the first CLV parliamentary summit has historical significance in the cooperation of the three parliaments. He spoke highly of the achievements that the governments of the three countries have recorded in the fields of politics - foreign affairs, socio-economic and cultural affairs, environment - climate change, security and defense, creating conditions for the growth of the CLV Development Triangle Area.

He asked delegates to put forward initiatives aimed at strengthening tripartite cooperation in economy - trade, environmental protection, transnational crime prevention, and border demarcation completion in order to build common borders of peace, stability, development and cooperation in the CLV Development Triangle Area.

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An overview of the first plenary session of the first CLV parliamentary summit in Vientiane on December 5

At the first plenary session held after the opening ceremony, the three National Assembly leaders affirmed their commitment to further deepen parliamentary cooperation and partnership to maintain close cooperation and mutual benefit between the three parliaments, thereby promoting comprehensive cooperation in all fields of the three countries.

They emphasized the supervisory role of the parliaments in responding to global challenges, resolving outstanding issues, and stepping up the implementation of common agreements and projects for the common benefit of people in the CVL Development Triangle Area in particular and the three countries in general.

Speaking at the event, representatives of the WB, ADB, JICA, KOICA and UNDP highly appreciated the parliamentary cooperation between the three countries, and vowed to continue supporting Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in sustainable development, contributing to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

Source: VOV