Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Truong Quang Nghia on Wednesday played host to his counterpart, Mr Santiphab Phomvihane, the Party Committee Secretary and Governor of Savannakhet Province in Laos, and his wife.

Santiphab Phomvihane, the Party Committee Secretary and Governor of Savannakhet Province (centre) presenting Laotian Orders to the Da Nang individuals for their outstanding achievements in implementing cooperation programmes with Savannakhet, and Laos in general, over the 2013 - 2017 period.

During his reception for his Laotian guests, Secretary Nghia congratulated the Party, government and people of Laos on the 43rd anniversary of Lao National Day (2 December). He expressed his delight at the fruitful results from bilateral cooperation between his city and Savannakhet, and Laos as a whole.

To date, the 2 localities have entered into 8 memoranda of understanding (MoU), focusing on such areas as trade, agriculture, forestry, industry, and education.

In particular, in October 2016, the 2 sides signed a MoU on bilateral cooperation between 2018 and 2022 during working visits to southern and central localities of Laos by a delegation of Da Nang.

Bilateral cooperation in economic development, agriculture, education, and defense-security has been increasingly strengthened in a sustainable and in-depth manner over recent years.

The city Party chief underlined the importance of fostering bilateral cooperation programmes to fully tap their strategic geographical positions along the East-West Economic Corridor. Furthermore, maintaining regular bilateral exchanges of delegations at all levels and expanding cooperative ties in agriculture, health care, education, culture, and tourism were highlighted.

The host affirmed that the Party, government and people of Da Nang have always paid special attention to promoting the time-honoured special friendship with Savannakhet, and between the 2 countries as a whole, in a more comprehensive and intensive manner.

In reply, Secretary cum Governor Phomvihane spoke highly of the strong support given by Da Nang to his province over recent years in the aspects of  agriculture, health care, and high quality human resource training, hereby contributing actively to its socio-economic progress.

It is noticeable that, over the 2004 – 2012 period, Savannakhet received a total of 6.3 billion VND in aid from Da Nang to implement projects involved in agriculture, transport, and human resource training.

The Da Nang-funded Vietnamese Language Centre in Savannakhet Province has provided Laotian pupils, students and government employees with Vietnamese language courses.

Also on Wednesday, empowered by the President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Secretary cum Governor Phomvihane awarded Lao’s Labour Orders to units and individuals in Da Nang in recognition of their outstanding achievements in implementing cooperation programmes with Savannakhet, and Laos in general, over the 2013 - 2017 period.

In detail, a first-class Labour Order went to the municipal People's Committee, whilst third-class Orders of Freedom were presented to 4 individuals, namely municipal Party Committee Standing Deputy Secretary Vo Cong Tri, municipal People's Committee  Chairman Huynh Duc Tho, municipal People's Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh, and Chairman of the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Association Phung Tan Viet.

Also, former Director of the city’s Department of Foreign Affairs Luong Minh Sam received an Order of Friendship.

On behalf of the honoured recipients, Deputy Secretary Tri sincerely thanked the Party, Government and people of Laos for their kind concern.

He also vowed that the city authorities would further strengthen the special cooperation between Da Nang and Savannakhet, and between the 2 countries in a “forever green and forever sustainable” manner in the years ahead.