Vientiane province partners with four Vietnamese provinces in development projects

This story marks the Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 and celebrates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 45th anniversary  of the signing of the Laos-Vietnam Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

Vientiane province in Laos has close links with four provinces in Vietnam, namely Hai Duong, Hai Phong city (twinned with Vientiane province), Yen Bai, and Nghe An.

A Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation is signed between Vientiane province and Hai Duong province.

The cooperation between these provinces is aimed at strengthening the relationship and special friendship between the two Parties and states as well as the provinces, who support and assist each other in accordance with their potential and circumstances.
From 2011-2020, Vientiane province and the four provinces in Vietnam arranged reciprocal visits between high-ranking officials to formulate cooperation policies, review and evaluate their cooperation, and plan for future cooperation.
These close ties bolstered and expanded cooperation in many fields and yielded considerable success.
Vientiane province and its partner provinces in Vietnam arranged mutual visits between personnel from many departments and sectors so they could learn from each other.
They shared information about planning, agriculture, education, health, trading and investment. They also provided each other with scholarships for government officials and students.
The four provinces in Vietnam assist Vientiane province by providing funding to build infrastructure in many areas.
Vientiane province received funds to upgrade an ethnic school in Vangvieng district, while a fund was provided a build a dormitory, first aid room, laboratory, and a secondary school in Maed district.
Hai Duong province provided more than 14 billion dong for the construction of residences for provincial leaders, as well as an artificial animal insemination and breeding facility at the cooperation centre in Vientiane province and Hai Duong province. Animals were also provided for the centre, and a provincial kindergarten was built.
With regard to cooperation in trading and investment, the two provinces have encouraged entrepreneurs to visit each other, share lessons and information, and exhibit their products together.
Yen Bai province helps Vientiane province to produce videos and brochures that promote investment, with officials from the two provinces holding regular meetings.
The two provinces help each other in ways such as providing equipment like computers, learning and teaching tools, and providing funding to tackle natural disasters and other issues.
The relationship between Vientiane province and the four Vietnamese provinces has extended into many areas and deepened considerably.
As a result of this enhanced cooperation in so many fields, the special solidarity and close friendship between the provinces has intensified.
Cooperation policy frameworks have resulted in Memorandums of Understanding being drawn up as a reference for joint action. In addition, provincial administrations regularly direct and lead the implementation and enhancement of cooperation plans, which has bolstered the outcomes of relations and cooperation between the provinces involved.
Vientiane province has organised events to mark the anniversary of its special relationship with the four Vietnamese provinces, as well as celebrating nationally important days.
In 2014, the province celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the relationship between Vientiane province and Hai Duong. Provincial officials also organised an event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the relationship between Vientiane province and Yen Bai province in 2017.
Vientiane province and the four Vietnamese provinces have set out cooperation plans for the future. Over the 10 years from 2021-2030, the five provinces have laid down wide-ranging plans to enhance solidarity and friendship so that these relations remain sustainable.
They also aim to strengthen the outcome of cooperation in all respects, and to enhance cooperation in more areas of mutual assistance.
Other goals are to improve the mechanism of their relationship and cooperation in different time periods so they remain relevant to current circumstances and can be enhanced and expanded through shared discussions.
In the work plan for the next 10 years, Vientiane province and the four Vietnamese provinces will continue to boost cooperation in human resource development at colleges and universities, in terms of both quantity and quality.
They will also foster cooperation in trading and investment and continue to share lessons and experiences in investment promotion, as well as create conditions that facilitate meetings and information sharing concerning enhanced trading and investment.
In addition, they will jointly bolster tourism and share lessons learnt in agriculture, rural development, the creation of model agricultural families, and other aspects of development.
Vientiane province and the four Vietnamese provinces have also set plans for new cooperation projects. These include commercial chicken and fish farming, and a training project on forest restoration and development in Vientiane province.
The scheme aims to develop rice species of good quality that can be cultivated in the dry season on the four flatland districts of Vientiane province, while provincial officials will also get training in the creation of model agricultural families.
Another project will see the construction of a provincial centre for occupational training and vocational skills.
There is also a plan to build a provincial sports centre, in addition to training on the management of information, a library, and the development of science and technology in Vientiane province.
Training is also planned on the development and use of Geographic Information Systems, while a provincial handicraft centre and provincial occupational training centre are also planned.

By Visith Teppalath/Vansay Tavinyan
(Latest Update May 26, 2022)