Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam parliamentary summit kicks off in Vientiane

The first Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam (CLV) Parliamentary Summit kicked off in Vientiane on Tuesday, marking a new milestone in cooperation between the three countries’ top legislative bodies to strengthen relations between the three nations.
In his opening remarks, the President of Laos’ National Assembly, Dr Xaysomphone Phomvihane, said the summit was an elevation from the previous committee-level meetings held between the three national assemblies.

(From left) Cambodian National Assembly President Khuon Sudary and her Lao and Vietnamese counterparts Dr Xaysomphone Phomvihane and Vuong Dinh Hue attend the summit.

“The elevated summit aims to enhance friendly relations, cohesive solidarity and comprehensive cooperation [between CLV],” he told his Cambodian and Vietnamese counterparts and delegates.
President of Cambodia’s National Assembly Khuon Sudary and Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue led their delegations at the meeting.
Parliamentary cooperation aims to bolster socio-economic development, national defence and security, social and cultural relations, and people to people links for sustainable development in the three countries and the region as a whole.
The elevated summit also serves to strengthen the role of the national assemblies in pushing for and monitoring the implementation of cooperation agreements, programmes and projects agreed to by the governments of the three neighbouring countries as well as multilateral agreements to which Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam are signatory parties.
The summit takes the theme ‘Strengthening the Role of Parliaments in Promoting Comprehensive Cooperation among Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam’. 
The meeting coincides with the three countries marking the 24th anniversary of the establishment of the CLV Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA).
Dr Xaysomphone congratulated the successful joint monitoring of the CLV-DTA by the three national assemblies from October 17-21. The findings of the monitoring, the first of its kind, were presented at the summit.
Presenting the findings, Chairman of the Economics, Technology and Environment Committee of the Lao National Assembly, Associate Prof. Dr Linkham Duangsavanh, said the governments of the three countries had strived to fulfil cooperation programmes and plans.
These include a joint master plan for socio-economic development from 2021-2030, a tourism development plan for 2020-2025, and the vision 2030, which have delivered tangible benefits to the people of the CLV-DTA.
“The relevant government bodies of our three countries have actively cooperated in creating a sound legal environment and reducing red tape, as well as establishing special economic zones and developing infrastructure in the CLV-DTA,” he said.
Meanwhile, growing connectivity and people to people links are creating conditions that are more conducive for socio-economic development.
In addition, the three countries have worked together to promote community-based and eco-tourism with a focus on promoting the three countries as a single tourism destination in the Development Triangle Area, Dr Linkham said.
Dr Xaysomphone said the findings would provide fundamental data for summit discussions, enabling participants to jointly explore solutions to shortcomings.
First established in 1999, the Development Triangle Area initially encompassed the three countries’ 10 border provinces.
In 2009, it was decided to add one more province from each country to make a total of 13 provinces.
At a summit held in 2018, the countries’ leaders agreed to gradually expand the triangle area to include the whole territory of the three countries.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update December 6, 2023)