Vietnam and Laos have agreed to cement ties between their parliaments, contributing to the bilateral cooperation of both parties, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan held talks with her Laotian counterpart Pany Yathotou in Hanoi on Monday, as part of the latter’s visit to Vietnam, scheduled for March 5 to 10.

During their conversation, the two leaders agreed that recent visits carried out by leaders of both nations had created an impetus to push the Vietnam-Laos collaboration forward in various fields.

The two parties should maintain regular visits by senior officials, as well as the sharing of experience among ministries, industries and cities, they said.

Regarding the ties between the two legislative bodies, Chairwoman Yathotou said that the two parliaments should encourage each of their governments to establish policies and measures to further bolster bilateral links in trade, investment and education. 

Committees of the two bodies should continue their supervision of the implementation of commitments and cooperation agreements reached between their governments, especially those concerning shared borders, natural resources and the environment, she suggested.  

The Laotian legislator expressed her hope that the Vietnamese National Assembly and provincial-level People’s Councils would continue their support for their Laotian counterparts in the near future.

Following their talks, the two chairwomen signed a cooperation agreement between the two legislatures for the 2017-21 period, and witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two NA Offices.

Earlier the same day, Chairwoman Yathotou and a delegation of high-ranking Laotian officials paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi.