On the morning of May 12, in Vinh city, the leaders of Nghe An province, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the high-ranking delegation of Vientiane capital, the Lao People's Democratic Republic held talks and signed a cooperation agreement between the two provinces for the 2025 – 2028 period.

Attending the colloquy on the Vientiane side were comrade Anuphap Tunalom - Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Region I, Vientiane Capital, Lao People's Republic and members of the delegation.

On the side of Nghe An province, there were comrades: Nguyen Duc Trung - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Le Hong Vinh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (PPC); Nguyen Nam Dinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Phung Thanh Vinh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the PPC; leaders of departments and branches.

Overview of the colloquy

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Duc Trung speaks

Speaking at the colloquy, Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee expressed his pleasure to welcome the high-ranking delegation of Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR to visit and work in the homeland of beloved President Ho Chi Minh.

Providing general information about the socio-economic situation of Nghe An province to the delegation, the Provincial Party Secretary said: Nghe An province has an area of 16,500 km2, likened to a miniature Viet Nam when converging all natural factors such as sea, plains, midlands, mountains, and borders. Population is over 3.4 million people; being as the education and training center of the North Central region with 06 universities, 09 colleges and a system of schools and vocational training centers.

Nghe An's economic scale is currently ranked 10^th out of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam (after the scale arrangement, it is ranked 19^th out of 34 provinces and cities); the economic growth rate (GRDP) in the province in 2024 is expected to reach 9.01%, ranking 13^th in the country; the first quarter of 2025 is estimated to reach 8%. Budget revenue in 2024 reached 25,517 billion VND (1 billion USD), and in the first quarter of 2025 it reached 6,311 billion VND (250 million USD). In particular, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) is a bright spot. For three consecutive years, Nghe An has been in the top 10 out of 63 provinces and cities attracting the largest FDI capital in the country. Currently, Nghe An province has 155 registered FDI projects with a total registered capital of nearly 6 billion USD. In 2024, the export turnover of goods reached more than 3.2 billion USD and the import turnover of goods reached more than 2.2 billion USD.

Since the beginning of 2025, the province has focused on directing the implementation of the policy of arranging and streamlining the organizational apparatus, reorganizing commune-level administrative units and building a two-level local government organization model under the direction of the Central Government. Accordingly, Nghe An province reduced 68.45% of commune-level administrative units, to 130 units compared to the current 412 units.

On the basis of the good traditional relationship, the loyal and pure attachment between the people of Viet Nam and Laos, the Party Committee, Government and People of Nghe An province always identify strengthening and promoting comprehensive cooperation with localities of the Lao People's Democratic Republic as one of the especially important and top priority political tasks.

In recent times, bilateral cooperation activities between Nghe An province and 07 localities of the Lao PDR (Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, Bo Ly Kham Xay, Kham Muon, Vientiane, Savannakhet and Xay Som Bun) have been taking place vigorously in various fields; thereby contributing to fostering and building the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos.

For the Vientiane capital, the two localities have initially had a number of delegation exchange activities to visit and work; exchange and learn from each other's experiences in 2023 and 2024. In addition, the Vietnamese Government is currently striving to complete procedures to start the Vinh - Thanh Thuy expressway project as soon as possible. This is a component section of the Ha Noi - Vientiane expressway; which is of great significance in promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, creating momentum for the development of the North Central region and connecting with the East - West economic corridors; especially from Laos, Northeast Thailand with the North Central seaport system of Viet Nam.

Up to now, Nghe An province has officially signed a Cooperation Agreement with 3 border provinces of Laos: Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, Bo Ly Kham Xay and has traditional cooperative relations in many fields with 4 provinces: Vientiane, Khammouane, Savannakhet and Xay Som Bun.

In order to make the cooperation agreement between Nghe An Provincial People's Committee and Vientiane Capital Authority, between Nghe An Provincial People's Council and Vientiane Capital People's Council more practical and effective, the Provincial Party Secretary suggested that the two sides should increase the exchange of delegations at all levels; coordinate in implementing exchange activities and learning experiences in Party building, building the state management apparatus; organization and operation of the People's Council; experience in innovating the content and methods of activities of the Fatherland Front and mass organizations.

The two sides will increase contact, exchange and share information, opportunities, and preferential policies of each side, creating favorable conditions to promote cooperation in all fields, especially in trade, forestry, agriculture, agricultural processing, and technology transfer support, etc. Strengthening cultural and sports exchange activities; enhancing promotion and development of tourism tours. Regarding education and training, Nghe An province will support human resource training for the capital Vientiane according to annual targets, including Vietnamese language training and university-level specialized training.

Comrade Anuphap Tunalom - Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Region I, Vientiane Capital speaks

Thanking Nghe An province for the thoughtful and warm welcome to the Vientiane Capital Delegation, Comrade Anuphap Tunalom - Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Region I, Vientiane Capital said that he himself had visited Nghe An province many times. Every time he comes to Nghe An province, he sees that Nghe An province has many changes in infrastructure, and the economy and society are increasingly developing. This rapid and remarkable development has demonstrated the skillful leadership and direction of Nghe An province's leaders to bring the province's position to a new turning point.

The visit and work of the delegation of Vientiane Capital to Nghe An Province this time aims to further strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, two States and peoples of Laos and Viet Nam in general, as well as the everlasting friendship between Laos and Viet Nam as well as Nghe An province and our brotherly capital Vientiane in particular. On behalf of the Party Committee, Government and People of Vientiane, the Chairman of the People's Council, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Region I, Vientiane Capital congratulated the achievements in socio-economic development of Nghe An province during the past time.

At the meeting, the Chairman of the People's Council, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Region I, Vientiane Capital, briefly reported on the socio-economic development situation of Vientiane Capital. Accordingly, the capital Vientiane is a place with an important strategic position in terms of national defense and security, is the center of politics, economy, culture, society, foreign affairs, is the headquarters of the Party, Government, many international agencies and organizations, and many state agencies located in the capital. There are 5 special economic zones, especially Long Thanh Special Economic Zone which is Viet Nam's investment zone in Vientiane capital. In addition, this area also has demand for foreign investors to invest in many fields such as: Supermarket investment, duty-free zones, hotels, restaurants, and services.

In 2024, the macro economy continues to expand: Gross domestic product (GDP) increases by 5.85%, gross domestic product (GDP) reaches 85,892.25 trillion kip, per capita income reaches 83.47 million kip. In the industrial sector, the growth rate was higher, accounting for 47.5% due to the emergence of many industrial plants, the service sector accounted for 38.5% due to the organization of many Conferences and the Lao Tourism Year. During the past year, there have been visits and meetings at the invitation of the Government, and delegations from many friendly cities have regularly visited and worked.

In 2025, the Lao people are excited to celebrate three historic days: the 70^th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, which has been celebrated over the past three months. Preparations are underway to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the National Day of the Lao PDR, the 105^th anniversary of the birth of President Kaysone Phomvihane and the 12^th National Sports Festival at the end of the year. This will be a major event and coincides with many important events, including the celebration of the 12^th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. Vientiane Capital is implementing the Resolutions of the 11^th Party Congress and the 7^th Vientiane Capital Party Congress, preparing and organizing three congresses in Vientiane Capital, which will be completed soon, and the 8^th Vientiane Capital Party Congress is expected to open in September 2025.

Regarding the cooperation between Vientiane Capital and Nghe An Province, in accordance with the general cooperation plan between the two Parties and the two States, Vientiane Capital has begun to study the cooperation plan to seek potential in many fields where the two localities can jointly determine a common direction, especially the strategy of building the route connecting Laos – Viet Nam, which is the main transportation route, and the Vientiane - Hanoi expressway, with a connection point in Nghe An Province.

The cooperation between Vientiane Capital and Nghe An Province this time aims to strengthen and identify the potential for cooperation between the two sides, including delegation exchanges, People's Council work and government work, as a basis for unifying and completing the contents agreed upon by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government.

The Chairman of the People's Council, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Region I, Vientiane Capital expressed his gratitude for the contributions of the Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee to the socio-economic development of the province in recent times. At the same time, he respectfully invited the comrade and the high-ranking delegation of Nghe An province to visit and work in the Lao PDR as well as Vientiane capital at an appropriate time.

In order to promote the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two peoples of Laos and Vietnam in general, and Vientiane capital and Nghe An province in particular, to be stable, prosperous and beautiful, the Chairman of the People's Council, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Region I, Vientiane capital affirmed that he will make every effort with the Vietnamese comrades, especially Nghe An province, to preserve, conserve and promote the special solidarity relationship that will last and develop over the years.

In the 2025-2028 period, the People's Committee of Nghe An province and the Vientiane Capital Authority will carry out cooperation activities in many fields based on the functions, tasks and powers of the two Parties, and in accordance with international treaties and agreements signed by Viet Nam and Laos as well as the legal regulations of each Party. The two sides agreed to focus on promoting cooperation activities in the following fields: Politics, diplomacy; investment, trade; culture, sports, tourism; education, training; agriculture, forestry, science and technology and other fields based on practical needs.

Vice Mayor of Vientiane Capital Sillat Thongsin Thongpheng and Vice Chairman of Nghe An PPC Phung Thanh Vinh sign a Cooperation Agreement between the People's Committees of the two sides

The two sides agreed to assign relevant authorities to carry out cooperation activities in respective fields; support each other in developing joint programs, projects and activities in the fields.

Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Vientiane Capital Lamphoi Siakkhachan and Permanent Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Nghe An province Nguyen Nam Dinh sign the Minutes of Cooperation between the People's Councils of the two sides

Regarding the draft Cooperation Agreement for the 2025-2028 period between the People's Council of Nghe An province and the People's Council of Vientiane Capital: The two sides agreed to establish and maintain friendly and cooperative relations with the goal of enhancing exchanges in the fields of work of the People's Councils of the two localities on the basis of the functions, tasks and powers of the two sides, and at the same time in accordance with international treaties and agreements signed by Viet Nam and Laos as well as the legal provisions of each side.

The two sides agreed to focus on promoting cooperation activities in the following areas: Exchange of delegations on the work of People's Councils at all levels; support for training and coaching on professional work for delegates of the People's Council of Vientiane Capital; exchange of expertise and profession between the Committees of the People's Council.

Kim Oanh