Hanoi, Vientiane cooperation should be model for both sides: Vietnamese top leader

Chairman of Vietnam’s National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue highly appreciated the relationship between Hanoi and Vientiane after the two capital cities signed a number of agreements for future partnership.

Chairman of Vietnam’s National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Vientiane Anouphap Tounalom in Hanoi on August 10. Photo: Quochoi

The Vietnamese top legislator shared his view at the meeting in Hanoi on August 10 with Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Vientiane Anouphap Tounalom, noting that the cooperation should be a model for other localities of both sides.

Hue treasured the cooperative activities including meetings; dialogues; promotion programs for investment, trade, and tourism; cooperation in infrastructure and Covid-19 response; and training courses in both Vietnamese and Lao languages for officials of the two nations. 

With the sharing of experience in Party formation, socioeconomic growth, and People's Council activities, the two capital cities have provided an example of collaboration at the local level.

According to Hue, during his visit to Laos in May 2021, the two nations decided to improve ties between their governing bodies, bordering provinces, and sister cities like Hanoi and Vientiane.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong hosts Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Vientiane Anouphap Tounalom on August 10. Photo: VNA

Anouphap Tounalom, for his part, emphasized the collaboration and friendship between Hanoi and Vientiane. The two sides would exchange operational experience, he said, helping to consolidate people-elected agencies in the cities. He described his visit as the beginning of the collaboration between the People's Councils of the two cities.

The official noted the close relationships between Hanoi and Vientiane and added that Ho Chi Minh City and other Vietnamese cities had established ties with the capital city of Laos. In May 2022, a delegation led by Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen came to Vientiane for enhanced cooperation.

Anouphap Tounalom stated that he hopes to celebrate the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 by strengthening the strong friendship, unique solidarity, and comprehensive collaboration between the two nations.

On August 9, Hanoi and Vientiane inked a number of accords on agriculture, education, justice, youth union, and governance with the attendance of Anouphap Tounalom and his Hanoi counterpart Dinh Tien Dung. During the signing ceremony, Dung urged both cities to maintain high-level exchanges, carry out fresh initiatives, and spread knowledge of the unique relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

On August 10, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception for the Vientiane party secretary, highlighting the effective cooperation between Hanoi and Vientiane. He affirmed Vietnam’s strong and all-encompassing support for reform in the neighboring country, saying that Vietnam always treasures and accords top priority to the special relationship between the two countries.

Hanoi and Vientiane sign a number of agreements with the attendance of party secretaries of the two cities. Photo: The Hanoi Times