Quang Tri and Salavan strengthen ties with new cooperation agreement

A high-level delegation from Quang Tri Province signed a memorandum of understanding with Salavan Province (Laos) on May 7 to deepen cross-border collaboration and promote shared development goals.

The meeting took place in Salavan, where senior leaders from both provinces gathered to review past cooperation, identify obstacles in trade through the La Lay International Border Gate, and explore new directions for future collaboration.

Leaders of Quang Tri and Salavan sign a memorandum of cooperation. Photo: TH

The talks were co-chaired by Daovong Phonekeo, Member of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and Secretary and Governor of Salavan Province, and Nguyen Long Hai, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Secretary of the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee. Other participants included senior officials such as Ho Dai Nam, Head of the Party’s Commission for Information and Mass Mobilization of Quang Tri; Dao Manh Hung, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Quang Tri; Nguyen Chien Thang, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council; and Ly Kieu Van, Head of the Party’s Internal Affairs Commission.

During the meeting, Secretary Phonekeo shared Salavan’s achievements across various sectors in 2024, affirming that the visit from the Quang Tri delegation would reinforce the deep-rooted friendship and special solidarity between Laos and Vietnam, especially between the two provinces.

Secretary Hai highlighted the expanding and deepening cooperation across all fields, with national defense, security, and external affairs forming a key pillar of trust and sustainability. Border affairs have been prioritised through regular dialogues and collaborative mechanisms involving local authorities, border posts, and villages. Grassroots-level ties have been particularly strong, with twinning activities helping to foster a “soft shield” of trust within border communities.

Both parties have actively supported cross-border economic activities, personnel training, and mutual assistance in maintaining security and development. Quang Tri and Salavan forces have also effectively cooperated in combating illegal drug trafficking, explosives smuggling, and cross-border crime, safeguarding public order along the shared frontier.

The newly signed memorandum reaffirmed both provinces’ commitment to the 2023–2025 cooperation framework, while preparing for a new agreement spanning 2026–2030. Joint working groups will be tasked with assessing implementation progress and drafting future plans. Authorities will be instructed to address any bottlenecks during the implementation process and ensure that all commitments made by the two provincial leaders are fulfilled.

The two provinces committed to enhancing public awareness, particularly among the youth, about the traditional Vietnam–Laos friendship, border regulations, and legal matters related to cross-border marriage and migration. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in countering hostile and subversive forces, ensuring cybersecurity, economic security, and information safety, while actively preventing the misuse of cyberspace to undermine national security.

Furthermore, both sides will support the development of cross-border coal trade via the La Lay International Border Gate, facilitating investor procedures and promoting infrastructure projects such as conveyor systems within Lao territory, in accordance with each country’s laws.

Salavan Province also pledged to work with Sekong Province to propose that the Lao Government assist Vietnamese or Lao investors in securing legal approvals for projects, particularly for the proposed coal conveyor system, ensuring compliance with both countries' regulations and enabling swift project implementation.

Regarding infrastructure, Quang Tri’s Department of Construction and Savannakhet’s Department of Public Works and Transport will jointly survey and draft technical plans to upgrade the road linking Ban Dong (Sepon District) and Ta Oi District. This will serve as the basis for a funding proposal to the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Laos, the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam, and the two governments to include it in the list of ODA-supported projects.

The two sides also agreed to study upgrading the route connecting Sa Mouy District to the A Xoc–Coc auxiliary border gate, with a view to elevating it to a main international checkpoint by 2028. They will propose to the Laos–Vietnam Border Committee to allow the use of national ID cards for cross-border travel and introduce a unified entry–exit permit format issued by border protection units. Procedures for verifying marital status for Lao citizens marrying Vietnamese partners in the border area will also be streamlined.

Efforts will continue to promote cross-border trade, simplify customs procedures, support economic exchanges among residents, and invest in border infrastructure to boost socio-economic development in the border regions. Salavan expressed its general support for the PARA-EWEC economic corridor linking Quang Tri (Vietnam), Salavan (Laos), and Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand). Relevant departments will coordinate with Quang Tri to provide technical inputs for submission to the Lao and Vietnamese governments.

On this occasion, Quang Tri Province also offered VND200 million (US$8,000) to support social welfare activities in Salavan.

Hoang Nam