At the invitation of the President of the National Assembly of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and AIPA President, Saysomphone Phomvihane, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man is leading a high-level delegation from the Vietnamese National Assembly on an official visit to Laos. The delegation will also participate in the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45) from October 17 to 19, 2024.

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man.

Promoting Vietnam’s role within AIPA

The 45th AIPA General Assembly took place as ASEAN continues to prioritize the consolidation of the Community-building process and strives to complete the 2025 Master Plans. In parallel, ASEAN is formulating four cooperation strategies in political-security, economic, socio-cultural, and connectivity sectors for the next phase, based on the orientations of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. This vision aims for a "resilient, dynamic, innovative, and people-centered ASEAN."

The main theme of the 45th AIPA General Assembly is "The Role of Parliaments in Strengthening Connectivity and Inclusive Growth in ASEAN." Accordingly, discussions will focus on enhancing cooperation between AIPA, ASEAN, and observer parliaments, as well as mechanisms to address natural disasters, ensure energy and food security, both regionally and globally. The assembly will also underscore the key goals of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 while reaffirming collective commitments to building a resilient, cohesive, and prosperous region.

In this context, the participation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the high-level delegation from the Vietnamese National Assembly holds significant importance. Their involvement aligns with Vietnam's proactive and comprehensive approach to international integration and multilateral diplomacy. It seeks to promote Vietnam's priorities and elevate its role within regional and global parliamentary cooperation mechanisms, thereby contributing to the broader diplomatic efforts of the Party and State for national interests.

Moreover, Vietnam's participation reinforces the proactive and substantive contributions of its National Assembly to AIPA discussions. Vietnam also supports Laos in its role as AIPA Chair and, alongside other member parliaments, works to strengthen ASEAN's solidarity and centrality. The delegation aims to enhance relations between AIPA and its partners, contributing to the ASEAN Community-building process and promoting peace, stability, and development.

High-level meetings between Vietnam's delegation leader and counterparts from within and outside the region will strengthen ties between the Vietnamese National Assembly and other AIPA member and observer parliaments. These engagements provide opportunities for Vietnam to share information, exchange views on common regional concerns, and foster friendly relations with lawmakers from other countries. The discussions also offer a platform for Vietnam to showcase its policies and National Assembly activities, especially in the context of economic and social recovery and development.

Regarding Vietnam’s proposed contributions to AIPA-45, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee, Le Thu Ha, revealed that Vietnam plans to introduce four initiatives/resolutions in line with the overall theme and regional trends. These proposals will be discussed at the AIPA Young Parliamentarians Meeting, the Social Affairs Committee, the AIPA Women Parliamentarians Conference, and the Economic Committee.

Specifically, the resolution on “Enhancing the Role of ASEAN Young Parliamentarians in Implementing the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference Declaration on Promoting Sustainable Development Goals through Digital Transformation and Innovation” highlights the importance of digital transformation and innovation in today’s world. It emphasizes the role of young people and parliamentarians in improving policies and contributing to the betterment of people’s lives, while recognizing the value of culture and cultural diversity as drivers of sustainable development.

The resolution on “Strengthening the Rights, Social Welfare, and Employment Opportunities for the Elderly in ASEAN” underscores the need to enhance the rights, welfare, and job opportunities for older persons. It calls on ASEAN member states to prioritize resources, develop, and implement policies to improve social welfare for the elderly, and share best practices in this area.

The resolution on “Promoting the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls in ASEAN” acknowledges that violence against women and girls is a grave human rights violation and a barrier to sustainable development. It reaffirms ASEAN’s commitment to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls and calls on AIPA member parliaments to strengthen laws and policies on this issue while raising public awareness of gender equality.

Lastly, the resolution on “Enhancing Institutional Capacity for Transport, Aviation, and Seaport Connectivity within ASEAN” recognizes the strategic importance of ASEAN and calls for greater parliamentary engagement in fostering regional cooperation and policy development to enhance connectivity.

Vietnam will also co-sponsor six additional resolutions, five of which are proposed by Laos, and one co-sponsored by Indonesia, Laos, and Malaysia. These include resolutions on topics such as green financing for sustainable infrastructure, smart healthcare, and empowering youth in building a safe, sustainable, and inclusive ASEAN.

Solidifying Vietnam-Laos relation

This occasion also marks National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s first official visit to Laos in his capacity as Chairman.

The traditional friendship and special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos have continued to grow comprehensively across all channels, including the Party, the State, and public diplomacy. Both sides regularly exchange working visits and high-level meetings at various levels.

Most recently, President To Lam made a state visit to Laos in July 2024, and General Secretary and President of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith, attended the national funeral of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Vietnam (July 2024), followed by a state visit and participation in a meeting between the Politburos of Vietnam and Laos in September 2024.

Political trust between the two countries has been further strengthened. Cooperation in political, diplomatic, defense, and security matters remains tight. Significant progress has also been seen in trade, investment, culture, and education. Notably, challenges and shortcomings in major joint projects between the two nations are being gradually addressed through working visits and agreements between senior leaders of both countries, following key guidelines agreed upon by the two Politburos. Cooperation in culture, education, and human resource development has improved both in quality and quantity.

In addition, cooperation between the two National Assemblies continues to advance, contributing significantly to the overall relationship. The National Assemblies of Vietnam and Laos signed a new Cooperation Agreement in May 2022 and are actively implementing its provisions. Both sides have organized numerous activities to exchange experiences, focusing on topics of mutual interest, such as legislative research, constitutional amendments, and the development and implementation of socio-economic policies. The two National Assemblies are also collaborating on the research, compilation, and publication of a book titled "50 Years of Relations between the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the National Assembly of the Lao People's Democratic Republic – Comprehensive Cooperation and Development." Both sides continue to exchange high-level delegations, share experiences, and foster cooperation between committees, friendship parliamentary groups, and female parliamentarians.

According to Vice Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Le Thu Ha, the visit by National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man is a direct implementation of the high-level agreement between the two Politburos during the September 2024 meeting and the Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement issued during the state visit of General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith to Vietnam, as well as the state visit by President To Lam to Laos in July 2024.

This visit once again reaffirms the consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam, which prioritizes the development of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos. It also demonstrates Vietnam’s strong and comprehensive support for Laos' efforts in national renovation, defense, and construction, as well as the trust and close bond between the senior leaders of both countries, and between the National Assembly Chairpersons of Vietnam and Laos.

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