The first session of the 9th Lao National Assembly wraps up on March 26. (Photo: VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) - The first session of the 9th NationalAssembly (NA) of Laos wrapped up on March 26 in Vientiane after five days of working.
In his address at the closing ceremony, Chairman of the Lao NA Saysomphone Phomvihane affirmedthat the session was a success, with a series of important issues for the countrybeing approved.
The session elected the Chairman of the 9th NA, the State President, and the Prime Minister,and adopted organisational structures for the legislative body and the Government.
Italso approved the 9th five-year socio-economic development plan, the State BudgetPlan for the 2021-2025 period, as well as the five-year master plan of the 9th National Assembly, and the NA’s plan on issuing and amending laws in the next fiveyears.
Notably,the Lao NA approved a new government structure with only 17 ministries and two ministerial-levelagencies, down by one ministry and one ministerial-level agency compared to theprevious term.
Thelegislature set an annual economic growth target of 4 percent or more over the nextfive years.
The NA Chairman affirmed that the success of the session demonstrates the unity and highpolitical responsibility of delegates, helping to consolidate and builda strong people’s democratic state to shoulder the heavy tasks assigned by thenation and the people.
Thesuccess of the session is the basis for organising the implementation of politicaltasks during the 9th-tenure NA, he stressed.
He suggestedthe Government urgently reform the personnel organisation apparatus to suit itsroles, rights, and duties, thus achieving the socio-economic development targetsset by the NA./.
The first session of the ninth National Assembly (NA) of Laos opened on March 22 at the new NA Building, which was a gift from the Vietnamese Party, State and people to Laos.
The Ministry of Public Security on March 22 held a ceremony to mark its six decades of sending experts to Laos (March 22, 1961 - 2021) to help the nation in ensuring political security and social order and safety.
Phankham Viphavanh, after being elected Prime Minister of Laos by the country’s National Assembly (NA) on March 22, submitted the list of Cabinet members for the 2021 – 2025 tenure to the parliament for approval.
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Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
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Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
The first session of the 9th Lao National Assembly wraps up on March 26. (Photo: VNA) 
