Vietnamese, Lao National Assembly leaders hold phone talks
Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and her Lao counterpart Pany Yathotou discussed the fight against COVID-19 in the two countries, cooperation among ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) member parliaments in response to the pandemic, and the construction progress of the NA House of Laos during their phone talks on May 7.
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (centre) (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)ღ - Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Nganand her Lao counterpart Pany Yathotou discussed the fight against COVID-19 in thetwo countries, cooperation among ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA)member parliaments in response to the pandemic, and the construction progress of the NA House of Laos during their phone talks on May 7.
Briefing Pany on the COVID-19 fight in Vietnam, Ngan saidthat as of the morning of May 7, Vietnam had recorded now new infections in the community for 21days and had successfully treated 232 patients, or 86 percent of the total. With 271 cases in a population of nearly 100 million, the infection rate inVietnam is among the world’s lowest, she said, adding that the country has basically pushed back the pandemic. For her part, Pany said Vietnam’s experience in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is aninvaluable lesson for all countries and Laos in particular. As of the morning of May 7, Laos had reported 19 infections, eight of whom have fullyrecovered, and zero fatalities. The Lao Government is gradually easing social distancing measures by allowing students to return to school, she said. The Lao leader thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for providing timelysupport to Laos in its fight against COVID-19. As Chair of the 41st AIPA General Assembly, Ngan called on the ASEAN Community to uphold a sense ofsolidarity and offer mutual support to each other to cope with the pandemic. In a cohesive and responsive spirit, she affirmed that the Vietnameselegislature will do everything it can and partner with AIPA member parliaments to ensureits success as AIPA Chair in 2020 for the sake of peace, safety, and prosperityin each nation. The top Lao lawmaker expressed her support for the sharing of experiencebetween AIPA member parliaments in the fight against COVID-19, as Ngan wrote in a lettersent to the heads of AIPA member parliaments on March 30. She believed that the Vietnamese NA will successfully organise the 41st AIPA General Assembly in the coming time. The Vietnamese leader took the occasion to invite Pany to attend a meetingof ASEAN-AIPA leaders at the 36th ASEAN Summit scheduled for lateJune in the central city of Da Nang. The Lao leader accepted the invitation withpleasure. Regarding the construction of the NA House - a gift from the VietnameseParty, State and people to Laos - both sides agreed to allow an additional 100 highly-skilledworkers from Vietnam to take part in completing the work, with equipment to be imported andthe remaining interior design to be completed shortly. They expressed their determination to complete the project in December 2020 or earlyJanuary 2021 to celebrate the 11th National Congress of the Lao People’sRevolutionary Party. The two leaders also pledged to continue discussing issues of mutualconcern via phone talks at an appropriate time in the near future./.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung on April 3 handed over medical equipment worth over 7 billion VND (304,000 USD) as gifts from the Vietnamese Government and people to their Lao and Cambodian counterparts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 5 informed Vietnam citizens of new entry-exit regulations the Lao Government has issued as an effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association on April 21 presented medical supplies to help Lao people, especially doctors and nurses who are directly involved in preventing and combating the COVID-19.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (centre) (Photo: VNA) 
