Vietnam hands Laos new parliament house

The inauguration and awarding ceremony of Lao National Assembly (NA) House took place Tuesday in Lao capital Vientiane under the chairmanship of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, and Lao National Assembly Speaker Saysomphone Phomvihane.

The event was held within the framework of President Phuc's official friendship visit to Laos, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Speaking at the ceremony, Phuc said the house is a gift from Vietnam to Laos, which has been evaluated by Lao leaders as "the most modern, most harmonious with national identity, most solid and best investment."

The Vietnamese president also expressed his wish that the Lao NA House is fully utilized, operated and maintained to ensure safety and quality to make it a symbol for the "special and unique relations" between Vietnam and Laos.

General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith thanked Vietnam for the gift, calling it "a symbol that will last forever."

Attending the 9th NA of Laos, President Phuc reviewed the milestones in the relationship between the two countries during the struggle for independence and current achievements of cooperation, likening the relationship to that of "two brothers."

He also mentioned the unprecedented rapid changes in the world and the region due to the rise of nations, fierce strategic competition among major countries, and the far-reaching impact of the fourth industrial revolution, climate change, and especially the Covid-19 pandemic.

He suggested both Vietnam and Laos actively integrate into the world, take advantage of external resources, and expand connectivity in transport, energy, and telecommunications to extend development space. He also said the two countries cannot avoid the global digital economy.

"Both countries need to cooperate in transforming to a digital economy, developing e-commerce, digitizing modern education, healthcare, financial and banking services, gradually improving competitiveness, and improving the economy in the industrial revolution 4.0," he said.

During the visit, Phuc and his wife also came to lay a wreath at the Unknown Soldiers Monument.

He then met with Lao NA Speaker Saysomphone Phomvihane, Lao Vice President Pany Yathotou and Vice President Bounthong Chithmany, visited the Vietnamese Embassy, and representatives of Vietnamese communities and businesses in Laos.