He was talking to National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in Vientiane on September 27 after listening to the guest’s suggestion on the two Governments’ continuous coordination to work for the efficiency of Vietnamese-invested projects in Laos. 

The Vietnamese legislator spoke highly of the Lao leader’s contributions to the bilateral ties, especially in politics, economy, trade and investment.

She informed her host on the outcomes of the talks with NA Chairwoman Pany Yathotou, noting agreements reached on action plans and cooperation orientations between the two legislatures in the coming time. 

She also talked about a workshop where Vietnamese and Lao law makers exchanged experience in public debt management. 

The legislator highlighted cooperation outcomes between the two countries’ ministries, agencies and localities over the years under the supervision of the two legislative bodies. 

The host praised Vietnam’s contributions to Laos’ successful organisation of the 49th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and related meetings in July 2016. 

Later the same day, NA Chairwoman Ngan and her entourage left Laos for Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the second leg of her tour of ASEAN countries.

Vietnamese, Lao border localities foster justice cooperation

The Ministries of Justice of Vietnam and Laos on September 27 held the third expanded conference for localities along the shared border, with the participation of more than 100 justice officials from 10 provinces of both countries.

Addressing the event, Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long said that the event is a chance for justice and civil judgment execution agencies of Vietnamese and Lao border localities to discuss and seek solutions to strengthen their cooperation, contributing to ensuring peaceful life for locals and maintaining the shared border of peace.

Participants agreed that since the previous conference, there have been remarkable improvements in the management of resident registration and nationality-related issues at localities along the Vietnam-Laos border.

Justice agencies of the provinces have also worked closely in implementing the agreement between the two governments on the settlement of issues related to uncontrolled migrants and non-registered marriage within border areas, they noted.

They lauded the active coordination of the two Justice Ministries in building and conducting a project to support the Lao Academy of Justice using the Vietnamese Government’s ODA, which was signed on December 27, 2015.

In the coming time, the two ministries will continue cooperating with relevant ministries and agencies of both countries to effectively conducting the bilateral agreement signed on July 8, 2013 on handling uncontrolled emigrant and non-registered marriage in border areas.

The two ministries will also encourage border localities to set up twin relationship to support and cooperate with each other for common development.

Departments of Justice along the Vietnam-Laos border will also give law education as well as legal support to locals to enhance their understanding of the law of both countries.

The Laos’ Ministry of Justice asked for the Vietnamese side’s assistance in revising the Law on Enforcement of Judgments to submit to the Lao National Assembly in 2017.

During the event, the two ministries signed three partnership deals, including a cooperation plan for 2017.

NA backs cooperation between Vietnamese, Lao fronts

The National Assembly (NA) supports cooperation between the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC), said NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

At a meeting with LFNC Central Committee Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane in Vientiane on September 27, the top legislator appreciated the two fronts’ collaboration over the recent past, highlighting that their cooperation agreement for 2016-2020 will contribute to consolidating and developing the traditional solidarity, friendship and special cooperation between the two countries. 

Briefing her host on outcomes of the talks with her Lao counterpart Pany Yathotou, Chairwoman Ngan said the two sides agreed upon action plans and cooperation orientations between the two countries as well as their legislative bodies in the time ahead. 

The two leaders also co-chaired a workshop where Vietnamese and Lao law-makers exchanged experience in public debt management, she said. 

For his part, Saysomphone Phomvihane stressed the need for Vietnam and Lao to continue preserving and promoting their fruitful long-standing friendship, fostered day by day by generations of both countries’ leaders.

He acknowledged great contributions of Vietnam, especially its legislature, to Laos’ successful organisation of the 49 th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the ASEAN Summit and related meetings. 

The two fronts were unanimous on activities popularising the Vietnam-Laos solidarity and friendship among the two countries’ youths in order to mark the 55 th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 2017, he noted.

The LFNC will invite VFF leaders to visit Laos in late October to discuss the establishment of five advisory boards of the Lao front, he said. 

Coordination mechanisms between the Vietnamese and Lao NAs, Governments and fronts will be established to help them perform their supervision and social criticism tasks, he added. 

The same day, the Vietnamese leader visited Sisavath Keobounphanh, former LFNC Central Committee Chairman.

Vietnam, Laos share experience in public debt management

Vietnamese and Lao parliamentarians shared experience in public debt management during a workshop held in Vientiane on September 27.

Lao National Assembly Chairwoman Pany Yathotou said the event allowed participants to propose financial and foreign currency policies to ensure socio-economic development.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said public debt is a major issue for many countries around the world, including Vietnam and Laos .

The top Vietnamese legislator welcomed the Lao NA’s initiative to host the workshop to discuss this matter in an effective way, contributing to socio-economic development, financial safety and macroeconomic stability.

She said that governments should map out strategies to control investment in the public sector while reducing the state budget deficit, curbing foreign debts and improving State-run businesses’ investment efficiency.

Gross domestic product growth, inflation, interest rates, current account deficit, and foreign exchange reserves should be well controlled, she said, emphasizing the importance of coordination between relevant agencies under Government management and NA supervision.

Participants also discussed the role of the NA and State Audit in public debt management.

VNA