Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnam's central province of Quang Binh and Savannakhet province of Laos agreed to boost cooperation in various areas during talks between Secretary of the Quang Binh Party Committee Vu Dai Thang and Bounchom Oubonpaseuth, Governor of the Lao province on August 29.

The two sides informed each other about the socioeconomic situation as well as national defense and security, and Party building; reviewed outcomes of their cooperation in the past time; and set forth orientations for future collaboration.

The leaders of the two provinces will continue to direct competent agencies to support localities and enterprises to expand cooperation in the field of economy and create conditions for businesses and investors to invest in the fields of renewable energy, trade, tourism, services and goods production, in line with the capabilities and strengths of each province.

They will further cooperate in promoting tourism, improving the quality of tourism human resources, and tapping tourism potential between the two localities. They pledged to coordinate in organising and participating in trade fairs and exhibitions, strengthening trade promotion between the two localities and effectively exploiting the Dong Hoi-Savannakhet passenger transport route.

The two provinces will continue to conduct communication work to raise awareness among residents in border areas to implement the protocol on the Vietnam-Laos borderline and national border markers, and the Vietnam-Laos agreement on land border and border gate management regulations.

Relevant forces were asked to regularly exchange information, coordinate in conducting bilateral patrols, protect the border and border markers as well as join hands in the fight against cross-border crimes, especially drug crimes, smuggling, illegal exploitation of resources and minerals, illegal trading and transportation of weapons and explosives, disease prevention, and rescue and relief.

Every year, Quang Binh province will help Savannakhet province train 20 university and college students at its training facilities. In return, Savannakhet province will assist its Vietnamese counterpart in training the Lao language for an official over two years.

At the end of the talks, Secretary of the Quang Binh Party Committee Thang presented 200 millioᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚn VND (8,000 USD) to Savannakhet./.