National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man, who is now in Laos for an official visit and attendance at the AIPA-45, met with General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith in Vientiane on October 18, according to a report from the Vietnam News Agency.

During the meeting. Mr. Thongloun said that Chairman Man’s visit carries important significance and will contribute to further strengthening the closely-knit relationship between the two countries. It serves as a great encouragement and motivation for Laos during its tenure as ASEAN Chair and AIPA Chair in 2024.

The Lao top leader thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for standing by the side of Laos in its past struggle for national liberation and assisting its present national development.

He spoke highly of the two sides' active coordination in implementing the outcomes of the recent meeting between the two Politburos, in which Vietnam established a task force to carry out the cooperation agreements, and the Lao side organized a conference to assign specific tasks to its ministries and sectors.

Expressing his delight at the significant and historic achievements that Laos has made after nearly 40 years of renewal and more than three years of implementing the 11th National Party Congress’s Resolution, the Vietnamese top legislator said he believes that under the sound leadership of the LPRP, the government’s administration, and the supervision of the legislature, Laos will be well-prepared for the upcoming 12th Party Congress and build a socio-economic development plan 2026-2030, continuing to build a prosperous Laos with an increasingly elevated position on the international stage.

The two sides highly valued the fine and solid development of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, with important contributions by the two NAs.

They stressed the need to fully promote their long-standing traditions of close and reliable cooperation, actively implement the high-level agreements, and strengthen collaboration between the two legislative bodies, especially in delegation exchanges and the sharing of experiences in constitutional amendments and supreme supervision, and in making decisions on key national issues. Additionally, they highlighted the importance of collaborating closely with and supporting each other at parliamentary and international forums such as the AIPA, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF).