During his reception on Monday for Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Xuphan Keomixay, Da Nang People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho expressed his delight at the fruitful results from the numerous bilateral cooperative programmes with Laotian localities.

Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Xuphan Keomixay (left) and Chairman Tho

To date, the city has entered into 30 agreements and memoranda of understanding on bilateral cooperation with some of Lao localities, namely Vientiane, Savannakhet, Champasak, Sekong, Salavane, Attapeu, Bolikhamxay, and Xaynhaburi.

Focus has been on exchanging high-ranking government officials, creating favourable conditions for Da Nang and Lao businesses to operate effectively in the localities where they pour their money, and promoting the development of such aspects as agriculture, education, healthcare, and culture for mutual benefit.

Currently, 4 businesses from Da Nang, with a total investment capital of 52.3 million USD, are operating in Laos.

Since 2002, the University of Da Nang has enrolled a total of around 750 Lao students from Champasak, Sekong, Savannakhet, and Salavan provinces.

During the 2018 -2019 academic year, the city authorities have granted 58 scholarships to Lao students from Savannakhet, Attapeu and Salavan provinces.

Chairman Tho remarked his city is paying special attention to giving more assistance on such aspects as economy, agriculture, and education to southern and central localities of Laos.

He also hoped that relevant Lao agencies, especially the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment, would create more favourable conditions for his city to build the East-West Economic Corridor No 2 (EWEC2) connecting Quang Nam, Da Nang, Laos with other countries in the region. This will help to lift the bilateral relations with Laotian localities to new heights.

In reply, Minister Xuphan Keomixay affirmed that he would do his utmost to bolster the bilateral relationships with Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, in such aspects as investment, and security and defence at border areas, in the years ahead.