President of National Assembly Holds Bilateral Meeting with Belarus Counterpart

On October 20, President of the Lao National Assembly, Mr. Xaysomphone Phomvihane, held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Igor Sergeyenko, President of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus. The meeting took place during Mr. Sergeyenko's visit to the Lao PDR to attend the 45th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly at the invitation of the Lao National Assembly. During the meeting, Mr. Xaysomphone expressed his deep appreciation for the visit of Mr. Sergeyenko and his delegation, noting that their presence contributes to strengthening the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Laos and Belarus. He also emphasized the importance of advancing the implementation of the memorandum of cooperation between the two national parliaments to make the relationship more structured and formalized. Both sides discussed the enhancement of cooperation in areas such as politics, economics, investment, education, public affairs, and culture. However, despite existing agre ements, Mr. Xaysomphone pointed out that challenges faced by both nations have hindered the full realization of their cooperation agreements, particularly the memorandum of understanding signed in 2013. Looking ahead, Mr. Xaysomphone proposed further strengthening ties between the two legislative bodies. He suggested continuing high-level visits, exchanges between parliamentary commissioners, secretariats, and friendship groups, and sharing experiences and information on the role of joint legislative bodies. He also recommended organizing seminars, study tours, and face-to-face as well as virtual meetings to promote cooperation. Additionally, Mr. Xaysomphone stressed the importance of jointly monitoring the implementation of agreements, conventions, and investment projects between the two nations to ensure their efficiency. He also advocated for continued collaboration and mutual support in regional and international parliamentary forums. Source: Lao News Agency