Dong Thap, Laos' Champasak Province Strengthen Cooperation
(DTO) On August 12, a high-level delegation from Champasak Province (Laos), led by Mr. Souksavanh Vilavong, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial Administration Committee, paid a working visit to Dong Thap Province.
Mr. Pham Thanh Ngai, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee, received and held talks with the delegation.
Speaking at the reception, Chairman Pham Thanh Ngai expressed his profound condolences over the passing of Mr. Saysomphone Phomvihane, Politburo member and Chairman of the National Assembly of Laos. He noted that Vietnam has decided to observe two days of national mourning for the late Lao legislative leader, while Dong Thap also dispatched a delegation to pay tribute at the Lao Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.
Over the past period, bilateral cooperation has yielded positive, albeit modest, results. These tangible achievements have fostered greater mutual understanding, trust, and close ties between the leaders and people of both provinces, thereby further consolidating and deepening the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos.
The Dong Thap Chairman provided an overview of the province's socio-economic situation one year after the merger of Tien Giang and Dong Thap provinces. He emphasized that the province is focusing on tapping its potential and advantages, striving to join the above-average per capita income group in the region.
In agriculture, Dong Thap boasts significant strengths and aims to become a regional agricultural growth pole. The two provinces seek to step up cooperation and experience sharing in agricultural production, processing, and marketing, while strengthening connections to promote trade in their signature local products.
The two provinces should also expand cooperation in education and training, organize exchange programs, strengthen tourism linkages, and interconnect travel itineraries and routes between the two localities.
Against the backdrop of Vietnam’s target of achieving double-digit economic growth, the two provinces can enhance cooperation in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, thereby injecting new impetus into socio-economic development.
Speaking during the visit, Chairman Souksavanh Vilavong expressed his deep gratitude to the Party, State, and people of Vietnam, including their counterparts in Dong Thap, for their sentiments, attention, and condolences following the passing of Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane. This, he said, stands as a testament to the close and steadfast ties between the two Parties, States, and peoples.
Chairman Souksavanh Vilavong highly appreciated Dong Thap's valuable support, saying it had made practical contributions to Champasak's socio-economic development. He expressed his hope that both sides would continue to build on these milestones, expand cooperation in areas of mutual strength, and enhance experience sharing.
The Champasak side proposed that the two localities continue to effectively implement the MoU for the 2026–2030 period, ensuring that cooperation initiatives become more substantive and highly efficient.
The two sides should continue implementing the agreed cooperation programmes and projects, particularly those related to socio-economic development, agriculture, irrigation, and technical assistance.
The departments of foreign affairs of the two provinces are tasked to proactively coordinate, exchange views, and advise on the organization of exchange activities and commemorations of important holidays and historical events in Vietnam–Laos relations.
They should also continue to increase delegation exchanges, share experience, and provide mutual support, thereby further deepening the friendship and cooperation between Champasak and Dong Thap.
On this occasion, leaders of the two provinces signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation for the 2026–2030 period, with a vision of building sustainable, equal, and mutually beneficial ties, thereby driving socio-economic development and improving the living standards of their people.
The key objectives are to increase high-level meetings, share experience and information, and transfer scientific and technical advances; expand cooperation in trade, investment, and tourism; promote human resource development and education; and step up people-to-people diplomacy alongside cultural and social exchanges.
The event holds great significance, helping further concretize cooperation between the two localities while contributing practically to the upcoming 65th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam–Laos diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962 – September 5, 2027) and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation between Vietnam and Laos (July 18, 1977 – July 18, 2027).
By HA NAM
Translated by X.QUANG
