The attendants of the Signing Ceremony include Kieu Thi Hang Phuc- Consul General of Vietnam in Luang Prabang (Laos); Padeumphone Sonthany - Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare of Laos (MOLSW); Keo Chanthavixay - General Director of Lao Social Security Organization (LSSO); the Deputy General Directors of LSSO; representatives of units under LSSO. Attendees from the VSS' side include the VSS Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh; representative leaders of a number of VSS units; leaders of social security offices in Son La and Quang Nam provinces.

Leaders of the two agencies signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for the period 2022-2025

The Signing Ceremony was held on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic relations and the 45th Anniversary of the Signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation; also, on the occasion of the VSS delegation to attend ASSA 39 Conference in Laos, taking place from 23-24 November. This event  contributes to consolidating and enhancing the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in accordance with the direction of the Party and Government in the year of Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation 2022.

At the ceremony, Padeumphone Sonthany - Deputy Minister of MOLSW - emphasized that the relationship between Vietnam and Laos is a special and close brotherly relationship over the past time. In their long history, the two countries have been on good terms with each other. The people of the two countries share the same sufferings, bond, and support each other in the long history of nation-building and defense.

According to Padeumphone Sonthany, 2022 is a year of special significance, commemorating the 45th anniversary of the signing of the treaty of amity and cooperation and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Looking back over the past time, the cooperation between the two countries has been closely implemented, including in the field of social security, especially the social insurance policy implemented by the VSS, witness a regular and continuous connection, despite difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Deputy Minister of MOLSW affirmed that, following the close cooperation between the two agencies, the memorandum of cooperation between the VSS and the MOLSW of the period 2022- 2025 will be the basis and orientation for further cooperation activities between the two sides that can be deployed more effectively, contributing to ensuring social security for the people of the two countries.

On behalf of the leaders of the VSS, Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh expressed gratitude for the respectful reception of the MOLSW and LSSO toward the delegation; also, he emphasized that cooperation activities in the 2016-2020 period have contributed to strengthening and further promoting the traditional friendship and cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Laos in general, and between the VSS, the MOLSW and LSSO in particular.

Presenting the Medal 'For the cause of Vietnam Social Security' to two individuals

According to Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh, leaders of the Party and Government of the two countries always affirm that solidarity, cooperation and mutual support between Vietnam and Laos is an objective rule and a vital factor for the two countries. Each Party and each country aims to constantly promote and strengthen the close and trusting political relationship between the two countries; the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos is growing, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries, especially during the recovery period after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Following the direction of the Party and the Government, the VSS is ready to further strengthen the existing friendship and cooperation relationship between the two agencies and continue to carry out cooperation in the new period to strengthen the cohesion of the existing relationship between the two agencies and co-develop in the implementation of social security tasks to bring benefits to the people and businesses of the two countries.

With such meaning and vision, Anh affirmed, the VSS is ready to continue to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and implement bilateral cooperation in the period 2022-2025 with the MOLSW and LSSO in all fields of mutual interest, especially regarding cooperation to improve the capacity of officials to implement policies on social security, digital transformation, inspection and examination and the implementation of social security regimes and policies. At the same time, it is proposed that all relevant units of the two sides jointly implement the activities with the highest and most effective results of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies for the period 2022-2025.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding and implementation of bilateral cooperation for the period 2022-2025 between the VSS and MOLSW, the two sides will identify areas of cooperation in terms of sharing experience on the implementation of social security policy.

Delegates are taking a souvenir photo

Some specific activities will be implemented in the above period, including the LSSO Board of Directors and related parties visiting and working at the VSS; leaders of LSSO units visiting to learn experience in implementing social insurance policies in Vietnam, etc.

On this occasion, on behalf of VSS leaders, Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh awarded the Medal 'For the cause of Vietnam Social Security' to individuals with excellent achievements in developing the cooperation relationship between the two sides, including Padeumphone Sonthany - Deputy Minister of MOLSW (former LSSO General Director) and Keo Chanthavixay - LSSO General Director.

Since 1998, the VSS has established a cooperation relationship with the MOLSW, specifically, LSSO. Until December 2015, at the 38th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, under the witness of the Government leaders of the two countries, the VSS and the MOLSW signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a specific action plan for the 2016-2020 period as a basis and orientation for further cooperation activities between the two sides. Since then, the two agencies have continuously had close cooperation activities within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding, specifically the exchange of high-level delegations, and technical delegations to learn and share practical experiences on the implementation of social security, and actively participate in international conferences and seminars organized by the two sides.