Vietnamese artists and Lao students perform in a ceremony on the 55th of bilateral diplomatic ties, and 40th years of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation between Laos and Việt Nam in Đà Nẵng on Monday. — VNS Photo Công Thành |
ĐÀ NẴNG — The relationship between Việt Nam and Laos is a good example of faithful friendship between two countries for over a century, a senior Lao official said on Monday.
Khamsene Phommaseng, the Laos Consul General in Đà Nẵng, was speaking at a function celebrating the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation between the two countries.
He noted that Đà Nẵng by itself had provided great support to Lao provinces over many years.
The central city has inked 29 Memoranda of Understanding with several Lao cities and provinces including Vientiane, Savannakhet, Champasak, Sekong, Salavan, Attapu, Bolikhamsay and Xaynhaburi in the fields of health, education, agriculture and planning for the 2018-23 period, he said.
Đà Nẵng Party Secretary Nguyễn Xuân Anh affirmed that the city would also accord top priority to co-operation with Laos.
He said businesses from Đà Nẵng have invested in four Lao projects worth US$52.3 million in textiles, mining, rubber planting and construction materials.
The city exported goods worth $28 million to Laos last year, he added.
Đà Nẵng has also assisted Lao provinces in the 2013-17 period with four projects worth $2 million, he said
More than 700 Lao students are studying in the city’s colleges, 200 of them on scholarships.
In 2012, a direct flight was launched to connect Đà Nẵng with Pakse and Savanakhet in Laos.
Đà Nẵng is situated at the end of East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) that links Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Việt Nam. — VNS