Dr Xaysomphone Phomvihane (left) accompanies Samdech Hun Sen to inspect a guard of honour at the welcome ceremony in Vientiane. - Photo: Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE: The President of Laos’ National Assembly (NA) and the Cambodian Senate President have said they highly value the longstanding ties between Laos and Cambodia, and the countries’ top legislative bodies.
The Cambodian Senate President, Samdech Hun Sen, arrived in Vientiane on Thursday (Feb 6) for a two-day official visit at the invitation of NA president Dr Xaysomphone Phomvihane.
The visit aims to cement the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two neighbouring countries.
During talks held shortly after an official welcome ceremony at the National Assembly, the two top legislators noted that the leaders of the two bodies have maintained regular contact and shared lessons learnt, underscoring their sound and growing ties.
The two sides have also offered mutual support within regional and international parliamentary frameworks, such as the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the French-speaking countries’ parliamentary forum known as L’Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF).
The two legislative chiefs reviewed cooperation over past years and discussed the direction of future cooperation.
They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, the Lao National Assembly said in a press release.
It was noted that Laos and Cambodia have enjoyed sound cooperation in a wide range of fields from politics to national defence and security, economic affairs, trade and investment, energy, education, sports, and tourism.
Dr Xaysomphone spoke highly of Samdech Hun Sen’s first visit to Laos in his capacity as the Cambodian Senate president.
The Lao leader congratulated the Cambodian people on their various achievements, which have seen the kingdom benefit from political stability and steady economic growth, with Cambodians enjoying improved living conditions.
As such, Cambodia’s profile has been elevated on both the regional and international stages.
For his part, Samdech Hun Sen expressed his delight at making his first official visit to Laos after assuming the top senate job last year.
During his visit, the Cambodian senate chief called on Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone at the Prime Minister’s Office, when the two leaders spoke highly of the growing bilateral ties between Laos and Cambodia.
This sound cooperation, they noted, has brought tangible benefits to the peoples of Laos and Cambodia.
They also made reference to the regular contacts between their heads of government.
The most recent of these was a meeting of the two Prime Ministers in Cambodia in December 2024, when they agreed to engage in cooperation in a coal-fired power plant, road building to link the two countries, efforts to boost trade and investment, cross border clearance, and border demarcation.
Earlier in the day, Samdech Hun Sen laid a wreath at the Unknown Soldier Monument in Vientiane.
On the same day, Dr Xaysomphone hosted a banquet for Samdech Hun Sen and his delegation. - Vientiane Times/ANN
