As part of his ongoing visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith made a working trip to Da Nang on Wednesday afternoon.

Deputy Secretary Tri (left) and Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith

During his reception for the Lao top leader, Da Nang Party Committee Deputy Secretary Vo Cong Tri briefed his guest on the city's socio-economic achievements over recent years and its development strategies in the coming years.

He noted during its development process, Da Nang has always supported and cooperated with the Laotian localities.

To date, Da Nang has already signed cooperative agreements with 5 southern and central localities of Laos, namely Attapeu, Sekong, Salavan, Champasak, and Savannakhet.

Accordingly, many projects in such aspects as education, agriculture, urban planning, and experience exchange activities, have been implemented effectively in these localities at a cost of over 60 billion VND.

Since 2013, under the international voluntary programmes in Laos, a number of Da Nang volunteers have provided free medical examinations and medicines to residents in the central and southern provinces of Laos, as well as presented gifts to 300 poor local families there.

Since 2002, the University of Da Nang has received around 750 Laotian students. During the 2018-2019 academic year, the municipal authorities granted scholarships to 86 students from Savannakhet, Attapeu, Salavane, Sekong, and Champasak provinces. In addition, the city has sent some of its government officials to Champasak Province to attend Lao language training courses.

Da Nang has facilitated leaders and businesses from southern and central localities of Laos to participate in the annual International East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) Trade and Tourism Fair in the city. Furthermore, the heed has been paid on encouraging the city’s businesses  to seek investment opportunities in Laos.

In reply, the Lao Prime Minister thanked Da Nang authorites and its residents for their active support for his country over recent years. The Lao top leader also underlined the importance of fostering the bilateral friendship and cooperative between Laotian localities and Da Nang in the time to come.