During his reception last Friday for a group of Da Nang’s leaders, the Governor of Savannakhet Province in Laos, Mr Santiphap Phomvihane, introduced his guests to his locality’s remarkable growth over recent years.

Secretary Anh (second right) giving 440 million VND from the city budget to Savannakhet Province to implement some local social welfare activities

He remarked that the province’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita has reached 1,785 USD per year, and there have been positive results from FDI attraction and local cultural and society activities.   Savannakhet is focusing on implementing its own socio-economic development plans over the 2016 - 2020 period.

The Governor suggested that Savannakhet and Da Nang should join efforts to fully tap the great potential of the East-West Economic Corridor, and to promote the development of the transport and tourism sectors, especially eco-tourism.       

In reply, Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Xuan Anh agreed with the provincial authorities about re-opening Da Nang-Savannakhet direct flights soon in order to promote their localities’ great potentials for tourism development.  He also affirmed that his city would continue providing training courses for provincial officials and students, and giving more assistance to the province’s Vietnamese Language Centre.

The city leader thanked the provincial authorities for allocating 2ha for the province’s Vietnamese People’s Association to build a high school.  He said that his city authorities would consider the province’s suggestion of helping to convert its Kaysone Phomvihane District into a city in the years ahead.  He also pledged that the Da Nang Port would offer between 10 and 20% off on its services for businesses from Laos, including Savannakhet.

A signing ceremony between Da Nang and Savannakhet

Also at the meeting, representatives from Da Nang and Savannakhet signed a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation between 2018 and 2022.  Under the agreement, Da Nang will fund 17.64 billion VND to train Laotian students and government officials and provide even more assistance to local social welfare activities.  In addition, the city will create very favourable conditions for Savannakhet businesses to invest and operate effectively here.

The following day, Secretary Anh met with the Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos, Mr Nguyen Manh Hung, who highly praised the efficiency of Da Nang’s support programmes for southern and central provinces of Laos over recent years.

The Ambassador took the opportunity to ask Da Nang to provide more homestay services for Lao students in order to help them improve their Vietnamese language skills and easily learn about Vietnamese culture.

Importance should be attached to providing healthcare services for Lao leaders, and organising more people-to-people exchange activities on the occasion of Laos’ Independence Day and the traditional Bunpimay New Year Festival. 

Secretary Anh (left) and Vietnamese Ambassador Hung

Mr Xuan Anh briefed the Vietnamese Ambassador on the purpose of, and results from, his ongoing working trip to the southern and central provinces of Laos.  In particular, the city has effectively implemented its development cooperation programmes in 5 Laotian provinces during the 2013 - 2017 period, and intends to deploy more between 2018 and 2022. 

On the same day, the Da Nang leaders paid a courtesy visit to Mr Anonuphap Tounalom, Chairman of Vientiane People’s Council.