The meeting of Vietnamese National Assembly's Economic Committee and Lao National Assembly's Economic, Technology and Environment Committee in Hanoi on Wednesday. (Source: VNA)

In the framework of a working visit to Vietnam by a high-ranking delegation of the Lao National Assembly, Douangsavanh yesterday had meetings with Vũ Hồng Thanh, chairman of the Economic Committee, and Lê Quang Huy, chairman of Science, Technology and Environment Committee of Việt Nam’s National Assembly (NA).

At the meeting, the two sides discussed the organisational structure, operation and cooperation between the two national assembly committees.

Introducing the Lao side to the organisational structure of the NA's Economic Committee, Thanh said that the Economic Committee, consisting of 45 members, is one of those with a large number of NA deputies. The committee members are diverse in expertise, age, working positions and activities in many different fields.

Carrying out tasks specified in Article 72 of the Law on Organisation of the National Assembly in 2014, the committee has carried out many activities in the fields of legislation, supervision and decision-making on important issues, such as submitting proposals to the NA for consideration, approval or comment with many bills, and reporting to the NA the results of supervision and verification for the implementation of the Socio-Economic Development Plan and the State Budget, and NA's resolutions related to economic development, Thanh said.

Regarding cooperation between the two committees, Thanh said that the contents discussed at the meeting contributed to deepening the traditional coordination and cooperation between the two committees.

He wishes to strengthen cooperation between the two committees, as well as the broader NA, including promoting the exchange of delegations and experts, organising workshops to share experiences in compiling and verifying laws, resolutions and ordinances, and training staff in inspecting and supervising investment and business activities of the two countries.

In the meeting, Douangsavanh praised the socio-economic development and foreign affairs of Việt Nam in recent years, saying that the experiences of Việt Nam's legislative and macroeconomic management were valuable lessons that could be applied to Lao’s economy.

Douangsavanh stated that the working session between the two committees aimed to continue tightening the traditional relationship between the two national assemblies while strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Việt Nam and Laos in general.

The meeting also aimed to implement the results of the visit to Laos by Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ in May this year.

Agreeing with the proposals for cooperation between the two committees, Douangsavanh suggested the two committees sign a memorandum of understanding. This will serve as a basis for monitoring and inspecting the coordination between the two agencies and implementing bilateral agreements in politics, economy and trade between the two countries.

Douangsavanh also suggested that the two sides continued to exchange information and views, and closely coordinate and support each other at regional and international forums.

Science, technology, environment co-operation

At the meeting with the chairman of the NA's Science, Technology and Environment Committee Lê Quang Huy, the two sides shared opinions on organisational structure, operations of the two committees and directions to promote cooperation in the coming time.

Huy congratulated the Lao National Assembly on successfully wrapping up the third session, including the contribution of the Economic, Technology and Environment Committee.

Introducing the organisation and operation of the Science, Technology and Environment Committee, Huy said that the 43-member committee is responsible for verifying law and ordinance projects and supervising the implementation of the laws, ordinances and NA’s resolutions.

Regarding cooperation in the future, Huy wishes to strengthen work between the two committees within the framework of the National Assembly of the two countries.

The Science, Technology and Environment Committee are ready to cooperate, co-ordinate and share expertise with the Lao side in legislation, supervision and decision-making on important issues of the country.

Speaking at the meeting, the Lao chairman praised Vietnam’s socio-economic development achievements of the past and expressed his pleasure that the two NAs will work more closely together in the future.

The two committees will continue implementing the cooperation agreement signed by the two National Assembly chairmen, promoting cooperation, exchanging delegations and sharing information on issues related to technology, environment, and natural resources, he said.

Huy said the new proposal is meaningful and hopes that the two committees will be able to work more closely in the future, contributing to promoting cooperation between the two countries and the two National Assembly.