Solemn opening of the first Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam National Assembly Summit

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, Lao National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane and Cambodian National Assembly Chairman Samdech Khuon Sudary pose for a group photo with delegates. (Photo: quochoi.vn)

The conference was attended by more than 350 delegates, including National Assembly deputies, representatives of ministries, sectors and localities of the three countries, representatives of the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Republic of Korea (KOICA). At the invitation of Lao National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue led a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly to attend the conference.

Determined to promote parliamentary cooperation between the three countries

Attending and delivering a speech at the Conference, General Secretary and President of Laos Thoongloun Sisoulith congratulated the National Assemblies of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam on upgrading their cooperation to the level of Chairmen of the three National Assemblies; highly appreciated the three National Assemblies' continued comprehensive cooperation, supporting the Governments in economic, cultural and social development, ensuring social security in the CLV Development Triangle in particular and the three countries in general. The General Secretary and President of Laos emphasized that taking place in the context of complex and profound regional and international developments, affecting the security and development of the three countries, the Conference demonstrated the determination to promote cooperation between the three National Assemblies, contributing to enhancing mutual understanding and trust, contributing to promoting cooperation between the three countries, especially the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle (CLV-DTA), narrowing the development gap, eliminating hunger and reducing poverty, developing sustainably, moving towards building CLV-DTA into a typical development area of the region. General Secretary and President Thoongloun Sisoulith suggested that the three National Assemblies continue to enhance their role, especially in supervising and urging the promotion of cooperation projects among the three countries and between the three countries and the international community.

Lao General Secretary and President Thoongloun Sisoulith speaks. (Photo: quochoi.vn)

Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Lao National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane emphasized: The first CLV National Assembly Summit has a historic significance in the cooperation of the three countries' parliaments. In the context of increasingly complex international and regional challenges and opportunities, based on the achievements in cooperation between the National Assemblies of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in recent decades, the three countries' parliaments need to continue promoting the friendship and solidarity between Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, and strengthening economic-cultural-social cooperation. The Lao National Assembly Chairman highly appreciated the achievements that the three countries' governments have achieved in the fields of politics -foreign affairs, economy-culture-society, environment-climate change, security and defense, especially creating conditions for the CLV Development Triangle to grow.

Chairman of the National Assembly of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Saysomphone Phomvihane speaks. (Photo: quochoi.vn)

With the theme “Strengthening the role of parliaments in promoting comprehensive cooperation between Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam”, the Lao National Assembly Chairman believes that delegates will exchange creative approaches and propose measures to strengthen cooperation through the National Assembly channel, both at the central and local levels, contributing to promoting economic-trade, environmental protection, cooperation in preventing and combating transnational crimes, completing border demarcation and marker planting, searching for missing soldiers, and stabilizing security and society of the three countries in general and localities in the CLV-DTA region.

Promoting friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation

At the first plenary session, the Chairmen of the National Assembly of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam shared their assessment of the establishment of the CLV Summit, which has contributed to further deepening the friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the three CLV countries. The three Chairmen of the National Assembly affirmed their commitment to continue to further deepen the parliamentary cooperation and partnership to maintain close and mutually beneficial cooperation between the three National Assemblies, thereby fostering friendship and solidarity, promoting comprehensive cooperation in all fields of the three countries. In particular, the three Chairmen of the National Assembly emphasized the supervisory role of the National Assembly in responding to global challenges, resolving outstanding issues, promoting the implementation of agreements and joint projects for the common interests of the people in the CLV Development Triangle (CLV-DTA) in particular and the three countries in general. The conference also heard the Lao Minister of Planning and Investment, representative of the CLV-DTA Joint Coordination Committee, report on the results of the implementation of the Master Plan on socio-economic development of the CLV Development Triangle Area for the period 2010-2020, as well as develop specific measures to implement the Master Plan on connecting the three CLV economies to 2030 and the Tourism Development Plan of the CLV Development Triangle Area for the period 2020-2025 and vision 2030. The representative of the Cambodian National Assembly also reported on the results of the supervision visit of the National Assembly of the three countries to the localities of the CLV-DTA area in September 2023.

Top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy

In his speech at the First Plenary Session, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue emphasized that the solidarity, friendship, closeness and political trust between the three countries of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam is a priceless heritage, of long-term strategic significance in the cause of construction, protection and development of the three countries. "Vietnam always attaches importance to and considers this a strategic task and top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy," the Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly stated. The National Assembly Chairman affirmed that the establishment of the CLV Summit mechanism is an important milestone in the history of cooperation between the three National Assemblies, marking the elevation of cooperation between the three legislative bodies to the highest level, a step to realize the results achieved at the summit meeting of the three Party leaders in September 2021.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue attends the opening ceremony (Photo: quochoi.vn)

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue proposed many measures to enhance cooperation between the three National Assemblies of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. In terms of politics and foreign affairs, the three countries' National Assemblies will continue to work together to preserve, nurture and increase the strategic value of the traditional friendship and special solidarity of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The three legislative bodies will strengthen cooperation in perfecting institutions, promulgating legal policies to support the Governments in socio-economic development, ensuring security and national defense; closely coordinate and support each other at international and regional forums, especially at the parliamentary cooperation mechanisms of IPU, APPF, AIPA, contributing to building the ASEAN Community and promoting cooperation in the Mekong Sub-region. Regarding economy, trade and investment, the National Assemblies of the three countries continue to monitor the effective implementation of signed cooperation documents, negotiate to sign new documents to create a complete, synchronous and favorable legal corridor in bilateral cooperation as well as between the three countries to create a breakthrough in economic cooperation, enhance support and connectivity between the three CLV economies; focus on specific mechanisms and policies for the CLV - DTA region. Regarding culture and society, the National Assemblies of the three countries coordinate and monitor the creation of favorable conditions for tourism development, promote the "3 countries - 1 destination" model, promote cooperation in health, education and training, cultural exchange, contributing to educating the young generation of the three countries about the friendship between Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam. In particular, the three National Assemblies focus on requesting the Governments to create favorable conditions for the communities of Vietnamese, Cambodian and Lao origin to live, study and work in each country. Regarding environment and climate change, the three National Assemblies will strengthen coordination and exchange on the adoption of laws and cooperation with partners related to the environment and water resources, especially the sustainable and effective management and use of the Mekong River water resources for the common benefit and for each riparian country. The three National Assemblies encourage the Governments and relevant parties to promote the implementation of global sustainable development goals and respond to climate change. Regarding defense and security, the three National Assemblies will continue to support each other to ensure the maintenance of stability, order and security in each country, not allowing any force to use the territory of one country to fight against another. The three legislative bodies will create conditions to promote the early completion of land border demarcation and marker planting between the countries. Sharing at the Conference, representatives of the WB, UNDP, ADB, JICA, KOICA, UNDP and Vietnam highly appreciated the parliamentary cooperation between the three CLV countries, supporting the promotion of mutually complementary cooperation between localities in the CLV - DTA region, thereby spreading the connection between the three countries Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam. International financial institutions and cooperation agencies of Japan and Korea pledged to continue supporting the three countries Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam to develop sustainably, contributing to maintaining peace , stability and cooperation in the region. * Right before the Opening Ceremony, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Lao National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane and Cambodian National Assembly Chairman Khuon Sudary paid a courtesy call to Lao General Secretary and President Thoongloun Sisoulith. At the reception, the General Secretary and President of Laos emphasized that the relationship between the three countries in all three mechanisms of the Heads of the three Parties, the three Prime Ministers and the three Chairmen of the National Assembly is like a tripod, contributing to further tightening the close relationship between the three countries to bring benefits to the people of the three countries, especially the people in the CLV-DTA region. President of the Cambodian National Assembly Khuon Sudary highly appreciated Laos as the first country to host the CLV National Assembly Summit, which is an important opportunity for the leaders of the three National Assemblies to meet, create understanding and solidarity between the three National Assemblies, and stand shoulder to shoulder to overcome difficulties and challenges, especially in the context of the current world and regional situation. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue emphasized the importance and significance of the Special Conference taking place on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of Laos' National Day; congratulated Laos on its achievements in recent times, highly appreciated the theme chosen by the host country as well as the preparations for the first CLV National Assembly Summit. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue emphasized: The Conference is an important milestone in realizing the agreement of the Heads of the Three Parties, creating a new high-level mechanism, creating a three-legged stool, contributing to bringing prosperity to the people of the three countries, and together with ASEAN countries to ensure peace, stability and prosperity. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue believes that the results of this Conference will be a good basis for Vietnam to prepare to organize the next Conference. The two National Assembly Chairmen of Cambodia and Vietnam affirmed their readiness to support and assist Laos in successfully assuming the role of AIPA Chair 2024.