NA Chairwoman wraps up visits to Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar

Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and her entourage arrived in Hanoi on October 1, concluding her official visits to Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

The visits, made at the invitations of her Lao, Cambodian and Myanmar counterparts Pany Yathotou, Samdech Heng Samrin and Mahn Win Khaing Than, respectively, contributed to tightening relations between the Vietnamese National Assembly and legislative bodies of the three Southeast Asian countries.

During the visit to Myanmar, the top legislator attended the 37th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-37) in Nay Pyi Taw, contributing to upholding the role and position of Vietnam and its legislature at multilateral forums, and promoting regional links and cooperation within the AIPA.

In her speech at the event, the Vietnamese NA leader reaffirmed Vietnam’s active, proactive and responsible engagement in regional and global issues; contributing to shaping and renewing AIPA’s activities, for a vibrant AIPA and a progressive ASEAN.

The NA Chairwoman had over 30 activities during her six-day stay in the three countries.

In Laos, she met with Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, and Chairman of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Saysomphone Phomvihane.

At her talks with her Lao counterpart Pany Yathotou, the officials discussed orientations and measures to reinforce traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two legislatures in order to promote the bilateral ties.

They co-chaired a workshop on “Public debt management experience”, which showed the role and responsibility of the Vietnamese and Lao legislative bodies for the two nations’ important issues in economic management. It is also a vivid demonstration of the effective cooperation between the two countries’ Governments and National Assemblies.

In Cambodia, Chairwoman Ngan met King Norodom Sihamoni who thanked Vietnam for its great and valuable support in the past and at present.

At the talks with Chairman of the Cambodian NA Heng Samrin, Ngan said Vietnam attaches importance to and gives priority to reinforcing and strengthening neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive with Cambodia.

The top Vietnamese legislator and President of the Senate of Cambodia Samdech Say Chhum, during their meeting, expressed their joy at the positive outcomes of land border demarcation and marker planting between the two nations, saying that they hope the two sides will settle remaining issues to build a border line of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

As part of her official visit to Myanmar and attendance of the AIPA-37 in Nay Pyi Taw, Ngan had meetings with President of Myanmar Htin Kyaw, Speaker of Myanmar’s Assembly of the Union and upper house Mann Win Khaing Than and Speaker of Myanmar’s lower house Win Myint.

Myanmar’s leaders spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements in socio-economic development during its Doi Moi (Renewal) process, saying that Myanmar will consider revising its legal policies to attract more foreign investors, including those from Vietnam.

While meeting with representatives from Vietnamese diplomatic agencies in the three nations, the NA Chairwoman urged them to well perform the protection of citizens, and intensify training courses of Vietnamese language to promote Vietnam’s cultural identities.

She also appreciated solidarity and contributions of Vietnamese expatriates in the countries to the homeland, hoping that they will serve as a bridge to foster connection between Vietnam and the three nations.

Talking to the press about the results of the NA Chairwoman’s visits, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations Nguyen Van Giau said this was the first overseas trip by Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan as head of the Vietnamese National Assembly.

The visits were very successful, contributing to further stepping up comprehensive cooperation with Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, Giau stressed.

He spoke highly of the warmly reception of the three nations’ leaders for the Vietnamese delegation during the visit.-VNA