With the Paris conference1973 under which US would withdraw its troops from Vietnam, the Pathet Lao pursued a policy parallel to DRV, offered to talk with the Vientiane government. In February, the two sides reached an agreement on the Restoration of Peace and Reconciliation in Laos. Both sides agreed to set up the Provisional Government of National Union in which Souvanna Phouma became prime minister and a National Political Consultative Council (NPCC)