As part of their ongoing working trip to Laos, a high-ranking delegation of Da Nang, led by municipal Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang, on Thursday, had a meeting session with Mr Santiphab Phomvihane, the Party Committee Secretary and Governor of Savannakhet Province in Laos.

Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang (left) donating VND 500 million from the city budget to support Savannakhet Province to carry out social welfare activities. Photo: NGOC PHU

Mr Santiphab Phomvihane expressed his delight at welcoming the Da Nang delegation, and the traditional friendship and special solidarity between Laos and Viet Nam in general, and between Savannakhet Province and Da Nang in particular.

He thanked the government and people of Da Nang for providing active support for his locality in such aspects as education, healthcare, and commerce, thereby making significant contributions to the province's progress.

The Lao host expressed his desire that Da Nang would strengthen high-level official exchanges, hereby creating conditions for departments and sectors to exchange their experience.

He also hoped that Da Nang and Savannakhet businesses would strengthen their cooperation in tourism and services, with a focus on maintaining the advantage of the East-West Economic Corridor in goods transshipment, and training human resources to teach Vietnamese language for the province.

For his part, Secretary Nguyen Van Quang congratulated the Party, government and people of Savannakhet Province on their outstanding achievements in the COVID-19 prevention and control work, socio-economic development, and national defence and security assurance.

He suggested the two localities continue to promote the culture of the two countries in association with socio-economic development activities, and further foster the bilateral trade relations, especially in the field of logistics. He also affirmed that Da Nang would create the most favourable conditions for Savannakhet enterprises to participate in trade and investment activities in the city.

The city Party chief Quang wished that the bilateral relationships with Savannakhet Province, and Laos as a whole, would be further strengthened in the coming time. He also took the opportunity to invite the leaders of the Laotian province to visit Da Nang in the near future.

The signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Da Nang and Savannakhet Province over the 2023-2027 period in progress. Photo: NGOC PHU

During the meeting, leaders of the two localities inked a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in such spheres as scholarship awarding, Vietnamese language teaching, tourism and trade over the 2023-2027 period. On the occasion, the two localities' industry and trade sectors also entered into a cooperation agreement.

The Da Nang guests presented 30 tablets to departments and branches of Savannakhet Province, and donated VND500 million to support the Lao locality’s social welfare work.

Also on the same day, the group of Da Nang’s senior leaders visited the Consulate General of Viet Nam in Savannakhet Province.

During his visit, Secretary Quang highly lauded the role of the Consulate General of Viet Nam in Savannakhet in connecting and supporting Vietnamese firms to do business in Lao provinces.

He hoped that the diplomat agency would continue making every effort to foster the cooperation relations between Da Nang and the south central provinces of Laos in the years ahead.

Also on July 7, the Da Nang guests visited the commemorative sites for President Ho Chi Minh and for late Lao President Kaysone Phomvihan.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Da Nang delegation attended the inauguration ceremony of the multi-purpose house at the Da Nang-Salavan Friendship Junior High School.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, municipal People's Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh affirmed that the Salavan - Da Nang Friendship Junior High School was a vivid proof of the special friendship and solidarity between Da Nang and Salavan Province.

“Hopefully, the multi-purpose house will be a place for school teachers and pupils to organise cultural and sports exchange activities and promote Vietnamese culture, thereby contributing to strengthening the solidarity between Viet Nam – Laos” noted Vice Chairman Minh.

Senior leaders of Da Nang and Savannakhet Province taking a souvenir photo. Photo: NGOC PHU

Secretary Nguyen Van Quang (left) presenting a momento to the Vietnamese Consul General in Savannakhet Province. Photo: NGOC PHU

Secretary Nguyen Van Quang burning incense at the commemorative site for late President Ho Chi Minh. Photo: NGOC PHU

Da Nang's high-ranking delegation taking a souvenir picture at the late President Ho Chi Minh Commemorative Site. Photo: NGOC PHU

Secretary Nguyen Van Quang and leaders of Salavan Province cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the multi-purpose house at Salavan-Da Nang Friendship Junior High School. Photo: NGOC PHU

Reporting by NGOC PHU - Translating by M.DUNG