National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will pay an official visit to Laos from September 26-27 at the invitation of her Lao counterpart Pany Yathotou, aiming to enhance legislative ties between the two countries.

The relationship between Vietnam and Laos has developed in an effective and pragmatic fashion across fields over the years, which has been evidenced through the exchange of various high-level visits and thriving economic, trade and investment cooperation.

As of December 2015, Laos licensed 413 Vietnamese projects, many of which have operated effectively, contributing to the two countries’ development. Two-way trade hit 485.7 million USD in the first seven months of this year.

Besides, cooperation in defence and security, energy, health care, tourism, education and training has been expanded.

Especially, the affiliation between the two legislative bodies has been consolidated over the recent past. They have supported each other in human resources development, and technical infrastructure.

The two sides inked a cooperation agreement in July 3, 2012, which has served as a foundation for them to foster their collaboration, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Apart from regular delegation exchanges, they have shared experience in institutional and legal building, and law enforcement.

The two sides have organised training courses for their legislators and seminars to help them exchange experience in legislative activities. They reached a memorandum of understanding in cooperation in training NA deputies.

The two NAs have coordinated closely with each other at regional and international parliamentary forums, and mutually supported at inter-parliamentary forums.

They have also strengthened coordination and cooperation to help Laos successfully host the role as the ASEAN Chair in 2016, contributing to maintaining the intra-bloc unity and solidarity.

VNA