Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese community in Laos has expressed confidence that National Assembly (NA) and People’s Council’s deputies in the new term will build on the achievements of the 15th legislature while helping remove bottlenecks and accelerate national development in the new era.
Speaking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Laos, Le Van Thuy, Vice President of the General Association of Vietnamese People in Laos, praised the reforms of the 15th NA, particularly policies supporting overseas Vietnamese under the Politburo’s Conclusion No. 12-KL/TW.
He noted that landmark legislation such as the revised Land Law and the revised Housing Law created more equal opportunities for overseas Vietnamese, including those in Laos, to own homes and access land-use rights in Vietnam.
National Assembly delegations have also strengthened engagement with overseas voters, addressing concerns related to administrative procedures, nationality and civil registration, demonstrating a greater attention to grassroots realities.
The legislature has further contributed to reinforcing the special Vietnam–Laos relationship through high-level exchanges and the inauguration of the new Lao National Assembly building, a gift from Vietnam. Meanwhile, People’s Councils in provinces sharing the border or twinning ties with Lao counterparts have promoted cross-border cooperation, trade facilitation and educational exchanges, including scholarship programmes supporting overseas Vietnamese and Lao students.
Looking ahead, Thuy said deputies of the new tenure will face higher expectations, requiring proactiveness, accountability and the ability to identify and remove regulatory obstacles. In the context of rapid digitalisation and globalisation, representatives must also promote the digital economy and ensure the effective operation of the streamlined two-tier local government model.
The Vietnamese community in Laos views Vietnam’s decision to hold elections earlier than usual as a practical and timely move to promptly consolidate the leadership apparatus, reduce delays between policymaking and implementation, and support faster national development following the orientations of the 14th National Party Congress.
Early election also serves as an important test to select capable deputies suited to the new governance model, helping policies reach citizens and overseas communities more efficiently. For overseas Vietnamese in Laos, stable and proactive leadership arrangements at home strengthen confidence and support sustained bilateral cooperation.
On inter-parliamentary cooperation, Thuy suggested Vietnam continue playing an active and proactive role in multilateral parliamentary forums such as the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, while advancing initiatives on the digital economy, cybersecurity and green transition.
He also stressed the need to enhance legislative diplomacy, accelerate the domestic implementation of international commitments, and refine legal frameworks in line with new-generation free trade agreements including Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Developing a “green legal corridor” and promoting agreements on labour, social security and judicial assistance would further safeguard the legitimate interests of Vietnamese citizens and businesses abroad, including those in Laos./.
