Lao Party General Secretary and State President Choummaly Sayasone said his wishes that cooperation between Da Nang and Lao localities will develop further in the future. During his meeting with the city leaders on 9 August, the Lao leader said that during past years, many high-ranking delegations from Lao Party and State have visited Da Nang, while the city sent delegations to Lao localities annually.
According to Mr Nguyen Ba Thanh, member of Central Committee of the Vietnam Communist Party, Secretary of the Municipal Communist Party’s Committee and chairman of the City People’s Council, Da Nang has signed 24 agreements and memoranda of understanding with Lao localities, including with the capital city of Vientiane, Savannakhet, Champassak, Sekong, Saravan, Bolikhamsay and Sayaburi.
In 2009, the Da Nang People’s Committee established a management board of Southern Laos projects based in Pakse town, Champassak province to deal with issues relating to cooperative programs between Da Nang and Lao localities.
Da Nang reported an export turnover to Laos of over US$12.7 million in the first five months of this year. 04 Da Nang enterprises are investing in Laos with a total investment of US$52.3 million.
Between 2001 and July 2011, the city disbursed more than VND56 billionto support central and southern Laos provinces, focusing on agriculture, socio-economic planning, human resource training, transport and sports training.
The two sides’ travel companies have also cooperated in operating caravan tours from Thailand via Laos to Vietnam.
Ngoc Thuy
(Theo website Nguyễn Bá Thanh)
