VIENTIANE: Authorities in Champasak province in Laos and Danang city in Vietnam have agreed to strengthen ties in trade, tourism and education, during high-level talks aimed at utilising their longstanding friendship to deliver more concrete outcomes.
Secretary of the Champasak Provincial Party Committee, Alounxay Sounnalath, led a delegation of officials on a visit to Danang on May 8, where provincial leaders and Vietnamese officials discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and open up investment opportunities.
The two sides agreed to speed up the implementation of their Memorandum of Understanding by carrying out field surveys in sectors including tourism, clean agriculture, and processing industries.
Their discussions reflected growing efforts by both sides to strengthen regional connectivity and create new economic opportunities through cross-border cooperation.
Danang authorities pledged continued support through scholarships for students and government officials from Champasak province, while also sending Vietnamese language assistants to the Champasak Vietnamese Language Centre.
In addition, Vietnamese institutions expressed readiness to welcome provincial officials for specialised training courses in Danang.
Meanwhile, business operators from both sides signed cooperation agreements aimed at promoting joint investment and business partnerships.
Among the proposed initiatives is a joint study into the construction of Vietnamese restaurants and hotels in Pakse, which is expected to support tourism growth.
The two sides also agreed to cooperate in promoting products from Champasak province in Danang, opening opportunities for local producers to access broader regional markets.
Tourism promotion was another major topic, with both sides agreeing to make travel between Laos and Vietnam easier and more appealing for visitors.
According to the Champamai newspaper, the meeting was an important step in deepening integration between Champasak and Danang and laying a stronger foundation for sustainable socio-economic development in both localities. - Vientiane Times/ANN
