A high-ranking delegation of Da Nang, led by Standing Deputy Secretary of the Da Nangy Party Committee Nguyen Dinh Vinh, recently visited five south-central provinces of Laos, namely: Savannakhet, Salavan, Champasak, Sekong and Attapeu. This is an important foreign affairs activity, contributing to strengthening the great traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Da Nang and Lao localities.

The Da Nang delegation visits a class at the Vietnamese Language Centre in Savannakhet Province, which was built in 2011, with a total investment of more than VND 3.8 billion funded by Da Nang. Photo: DAC MANH

During the visit, the delegation visited, worked and wished Lao traditional Bunpimay New Year Festival 2025 (Buddhist calendar 2568) in the five south-central provinces of Laos. The meetings took place in a warm, open and friendly atmosphere. Leaders of both sides expressed their joy at the socio-economic development achievements that each locality has achieved in recent times; at the same time, affirmed that the special and loyal relationship between the two sides is a priceless asset that needs to continue to be preserved and nurtured.

In each province visited, the delegation donated VND500 million worth of supporting social welfare work. This was a practical gesture, demonstrating the solidarity and mutual support of the Party Committee, government and people of Da Nang for the Lao localities. One of the key contents of the working visit was to review and evaluate the implementation of the memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation for the 2023 - 2027 period and the implementation plan for 2025 between Da Nang and the south central provinces of Laos.

For the time being, the cooperation programmes and projects have been and are being implemented basically on schedule, the committed contents have been fully implemented, bringing practical achievements. These have significantly contributed to the socio-economic development of the Lao localities, while affirming the role and responsibility of Da Nang in developing the special traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Laos.

During the working sessions, the two sides discussed directions for promoting trade cooperation, creating favourable conditions for businesses to seek investment opportunities and expand markets. In addition, areas such as education and training, urban planning, eco-tourism development, high-tech agriculture and high-tech industry were also taken into consideration, with specific directions for cooperation in the coming time. Notably, the field of education and training is always a top priority for Da Nang in cooperation with the south central provinces of Laos.

Every year, Da Nang offers many scholarships to Lao students at all levels from college, university to postgraduate. In addition, the city regularly organises short-term and long-term training courses for Lao officials, civil servants and public employees in the fields of state management, healthcare, culture and tourism. These training courses not only provide professional knowledge but also help enhance cultural exchange and promote mutual understanding between the young generations of the two countries. Most Lao students after graduation are assigned suitable jobs in their home country, many of whom hold important leadership positions in local departments and agencies.

In addition, Da Nang regularly sends teachers to teach the Vietnamese language at high schools and universities, as well as train Vietnamese for officials of Lao ministries and agencies. The upgrading of the Friendship Primary School in Salavan Province to Friendship Primary and Secondary School is a vivid demonstration of the results of extensive and effective cooperation in education between the two sides.
During the working trip, the delegation visited and worked with the Association of Overseas Vietnamese and the Vietnamese Language Centre in the Lao south-central provinces. This was an opportunity to grasp the thoughts and aspirations and commend the positive contributions of the Vietnamese community in the development of Laos.

The delegation also visited the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Savannakhet Province and the Kaysone Phomvihane Memorial Site, the two outstanding leaders of the Vietnamese and Lao peoples, to express their deep gratitude and the spirit of continuing the precious traditions between the two countries.

Sharing with reporters of Da Nang Newspaper, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Da Nang Party Committee Nguyen Dinh Vinh emphasised: “The visit had a special significance, not only helping to consolidate and strengthen the cooperative relationship between Da Nang and the Lao south central provinces of but also contributing to preserving and developing the great friendship between Viet Nam and Laos. We were truly touched by the warm welcome and sincere feelings of the leaders and people of the Lao provinces. The trip was not only an opportunity to summarize and evaluate the effectiveness of cooperation but also facilitated  the two sides to discuss and agree on specific directions and tasks in order to bring about common benefits. With the positive results achieved, I believe that the cooperative relationship between Da Nang and the provinces of South Central Laos will increasingly develop strongly, substantially and in depth, contributing to the development of each locality and further fostering the special solidarity between the two countries”.

Reporting by DAC MANH - Translating by ANH THU