Nguyễn Đức Dũng (L), Chairman of the Đà Nẵng People's Council, presents a token of VNĐ500 million (US$19,685) in support to Xékong province. VNA/VNS Photo

VIENTIANE — Nguyễn Đức Dũng, Chairman of the Đà Nẵng People's Council, has met with his counterpart in Xekong province Bounlai Boutthi during a working visit to the southern Lao province.

At the meeting, the Lao official spoke highly of the traditional special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Việt Nam and Laos, as well as the close ties between Xekong and Việt Nam's central coastal city.

He said the two localities have actively coordinated to effectively implement their memorandum of understanding on cooperation in a range of areas, including education, health care, trade and investment.

Đà Nẵng authorities have provided material and financial support to Xekong to help develop infrastructure, train human resources and promote socio-economic development.

With a view to long-term cooperation, the Lao province asked Đà Nẵng to continue supporting human resource training, step up communications efforts to bring practical benefits to people living in border areas, and coordinate in implementing the agreement on border management regulations. It also called for the Vietnamese side to facilitate businesses involved in purchasing agricultural products and expand the exchange of professional expertise and experience across various fields.

For his part, Dũng stressed the need for the two sides to continue effectively implementing legal documents on the management and protection of a peaceful border, while strengthening dissemination of the special friendship between Việt Nam and Laos.

He also proposed establishing joint working groups to conduct field surveys and ensure full compliance with the laws and regulations of each country.

On the occasion, the Đà Nẵng People's Council Chairman presented Xekong with VNĐ700 million (US$26,910) to help the province overcome the consequences of natural disasters and organise activities marking major anniversaries and celebrations of the two nations.

Later the same day, the Đà Nẵng delegation visited the local Vietnamese language centre, which came into operation in May 2018 and was funded through aid from Đà Nẵng. It serves as an important facility for teaching basic Vietnamese to officials from provincial departments and agencies, as well as pupils and university students preparing to study in Việt Nam and local residents wishing to learn the language.

They also visited the association of Vietnamese people in Xekong, which was established in 2005. Dũng enquired about the lives, concerns and aspirations of the Vietnamese community and presented the association with VNĐ100 million to support its operations. — VNA/VNS