The Vientiane’s high-ranking delegation on August 11 held a meeting with the Hanoi National Assembly Deputies Delegation to share experience on improving the efficiency of elected bodies.

Overview of the meeting. Photos: The Hanoi Times

At the meeting, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan and his Vientiane’s counterpart Anouphap Tounalom expressed their delight that both capitals have achieved solid results in various fields including politics, economy, culture, defense, and foreign affairs amid growing global challenges, especially the Covid-19 pandemic.

Both sides stressed the significance of the meeting which took place on the occasion of the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962 – September 5, 2022), and the 45^th anniversary of the signing of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty between Vietnam and Laos (July 18, 1977 – July 18, 2022).

Chairman of Vientiane People’s Council Anouphap Tounalom congratulated Hanoi for its comprehensive development, especially its accomplishments in pursuing a dual target of both containing the pandemic and pushing for economic growth.

Chairman of Vientiane People’s Council Anouphap Tounalom.

According to Tounalom, during the first six months of 2022, the Vientiane People’s Council has issued 11 resolutions and held 156 meetings with voters to address people’s concerns and contribute to greater efficiency in state governance.

Tounalom, however, acknowledged shortcomings in the supervision activities of the People’s Council, or in the process of dealing with people petitions, and sought experience from Hanoi’s counterpart to improve its efficiency.

For his part, Chairman of the municipal People’s Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan noted sharing experience in improving the efficiency of elected bodies, especially in policy-making and supervision activities, remains a key part of the cooperation agreement between the two capitals for the 2022-2025 period.

Tuan said over the years, the Hanoi People’s Council has been renovating its operation to better address the city’s challenges in the development process.

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan.

“Such an effort has been appreciated by voters and people of Hanoi, and regarded as an example for other subnational elected bodies by leaders of the National Assembly,” Tuan added.

He noted in the coming time, the municipal People’s Council would focus on evaluating the 10-year implementation of the Capital Law for future revision and aiding Hanoi’s development process.

With countries around the world now returning to normal in the post-pandemic period, Tuan expected both capitals to regain advantages and thrive.

In this process, close cooperation between the two people’s councils is essential to contribute to the overall development of Vietnam and Laos, he concluded.

During the meeting, both sides also discussed the experience in the process of mapping out a socio-economic development plan; State budget management; supervision of the operation of state agencies; enhancing the capacity of deputies; formulation of laws and regulations.