As part of their ongoing working trip to southern and central localities of Laos, a group of Da Nang’s leaders, led by municipal Party Committee Secretary Truong Quang Nghia, had a working session with represetatives of the Attapeu Province authorities on Monday.

Secretary Nghia (centre) speaking at the meeting

Also present at the event were municipal People's Council Vice Chairman Le Minh Trung, local People’s Committee Vice Chairman Tran Van Mien, and Vietnamese Consul General in Pakse City of Laos Bui The Dung.

The city’s Party chief Nghia (left) presenting a gift to his counterpart Let Xaynhaphon

Mr Let Xaynhaphon, the Party Committee Secretary cum Governor of Attapeu Province, highlighted the significance of the visit made by the Da Nang delegation in strengthening the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation relations between Da Nang and Attapeu, as well as between Viet Nam and Laos as a whole.

The Lao leader said Attapeu had high economic growth but income of local citizens was still low. He highly appreciated the Da Nang-funded cooperative programmes and support projects in his locality since 2013 until now. He underlined these programmes and projects have been implemented effectively in the province, thereby contributing to promoting the local socio-economic development over the past years.

Secretary Xaynhaphon remarked many Laotian officials and students have been arranged for working at Party and government agencies in Laos after graduation in Da Nang. Some of them have been promoted to leaders and managers of Lao departments and agencies.

Municipal People's Council Vice Chairman Le Minh Trung (left) giving 100 million VND to the Attapeu Province -based Vietnamese language centre

In reply, Secretary Nghia expressed his deep sympathy to some localities of Attapeu Province about the huge damage caused by the floods due to the effects of the recent storms No 4 and No 5.

Municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Tran Van Mien (centre) donating 100 million VND to the Attapeu Friendship Junior High School

He emphasised that the Party, the State and the people of Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, have always focused on reinforcing the comprehensive cooperation and traditional special friendship with Laos in general, and Attapeu in particular.

Mr Nghia affirmed that the Da Nang authorities are always willing to help the Attapeu Province government during its construction and development progress.

Leaders of Da Nang and Attapeu Province taking a souvenir photo at the meeting

Also at the meeting, the Da Nang delegation presented 250 million VND to Attapeu with the aim of helping the Lao province to deal with the aftermath of widespread devastating floods in early September. Besides, 100 million VND from the city budget was donated to the province-based Vietnamese language centre for purchasing teaching and learning equipment.

Secretary Nghia (3rd right) and Vice Chairman Mien (1st right) participating in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Attapeu Friendship Junior High School

In the morning of the same day, the Da Nang delegation attended the inauguration ceremony of the Attapeu Friendship Junior High School.

The construction of the school began in early 2019, and the work cost 9 billion VND (equivalent to 3.2 billion Lao Kip) funded by the Da Nang government.

The Da Nang delegation visiting the meeting room for teachers at the Attapeu Friendship Junior High School

The school has been put into operation for the 2019-2020 school year. The school features 8 classrooms, 1 meeting room, 1 meeting room for teachers and 4 toilets.

The purpose of the school is to promote the use of Vietnamese language and preserve Vietnamese culture in Attapeu Province.