Quang Binh(VNA) – Leaders of Vietnam’s central Quang Binh province and the Lao provinceof Khammouane held talks and signed an agreement on April 6, agreeing tocontinue strengthening multi-faceted cooperation in 2018.

The Lao delegation was led by Oday Sudaphon, Secretaryof the provincial Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party andGovernor of Khammouane.

At the talks in Quang Binh, the officials informed each otherabout the socio-economic development, defence-security situation, and the Partyand administration building in their respective provinces. They also reviewedthe implementation of the minutes of the talks signed in Thakhek, Khammouane,on March 29, 2017.

Hoang Dang Quang, Secretary of the Quang Binh provincialParty Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council, said thefriendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two provinces have beendeveloping sustainably.

Discussing the partnership in 2018, the twosides agreed to create more favourable conditions for their Party agencies, administrationsand organisations to share experiences while assisting border districts tosupport each other to boost common development.

The two provinces will step up trade, investmentand tourism promotion and issue preferential policies to encourage theseactivities between their businesses. They will work together to conserve andbring into play biodiversity values of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park inQuang Binh and Hin Nam No biodiversity conservation area in Khammouane.

Quang Binh is set to receive students fromKhammouane province and provide Vietnamese language and specialised training tosome officials of the Lao province.

They agreed to facilitate a project on buildinga bonded warehouse and oil pipeline from Hon La Port in Quang Binh toKhammouane, and construction of a section crossing the two provinces under theVung Ang – Vientiane railway project.

At the talks, both sides agreed to maintainmutual visits between their border working groups and military, police andborder guard delegations to exchange experience and bolster cooperation.

They will increase disseminating informationabout the Vietnam-Laos agreement on land border and border gate management regulations,coordinate to solve border-related issues well, and implement the twoGovernments’ agreement on settling free migration and undocumented marriages inborder areas. 

The provinces will also work together in issuesrelating to the upgrade and repair of border markers and roads traversing theirborder gates, along with the search and repatriation of the remains ofVietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos.

Quang Binh and Khammouane will also encouragecooperation in other fields that match their demand and capacity, the officialssaid.

At the talks, the two sides signed a diplomaticcooperation agreement with a view to enhancing bilateral ties.

On this occasion, the provincial People’sCommittee of Quang Binh presented certificates of merit to three organisationsand six persons of Khammouane to honour their contribution to the solidaritybetween the two provinces.-VNA