Quang Tri, Salavan hold annual border cooperation meeting

the annual border cooperation meeting between Quang Tri Province (Vietnam) and Salavan Province (Laos) took place in Salavan on March 3. The event was attended by Ha Sy Dong, Acting Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee and Head of the Vietnam-Laos Border Affairs Steering Committee, along with Phu-thong Kham-ma-ny-vong, Deputy Governor of Salavan and Head of the Laos-Vietnam Border Affairs Steering Committee. Representatives from relevant agencies and border localities of both provinces also joined the discussions.

During the bilateral meeting, both sides shared key updates on political, economic, and social developments, as well as border-related activities between the two provinces in 2024.

Delegates at the event. Photo: Tien Nhat

In recent times, authorities at the border gate have actively collaborated to manage operations flexibly at the international checkpoint. They have provided support to agencies and businesses in facilitating the movement of goods, vehicles, and people across the border.

Efforts have been made to guide and assist investors in surveying locations and completing administrative procedures necessary for implementing projects related to coal transportation conveyor belts, landfilling sites, coal handling areas, storage, transshipment, and related transport infrastructure and services.

Additionally, police, military, and forestry forces from both provinces have successfully implemented cooperative initiatives, training programs, and exchanges of information and expertise in their respective fields.

These joint efforts have significantly strengthened coordination in addressing emerging border issues, thereby contributing to economic and social development, investment, and trade between Quang Tri and Salavan.

Based on the discussions, the two provinces signed the 2025 annual meeting minutes, agreeing on key areas of cooperation. They committed to continuing public awareness campaigns to educate and encourage border communities to comply with legal documents governing the Vietnam-Laos border, particularly the Protocol on Borderlines and Border Markers and the 2016 Agreement on Vietnam-Laos Border Management Regulations.

Both sides will maintain bilateral patrol coordination to safeguard the border and its markers, enhancing information exchange to prevent and address violations affecting border security. Efforts will focus on tackling illegal border crossings, unregulated migration, and transnational crimes while ensuring the smooth operation of legal border activities.

Infrastructure investment and upgrades will be prioritized to enhance operational efficiency and compatibility between the two provinces. A joint survey will be conducted to establish a timeline and specific plan for proposing to the Vietnamese and Lao governments the upgrade of the Coc-A Xoc auxiliary border gate to a main border checkpoint, with the aim of completing the necessary documentation for the upgrade by 2028.

The provinces also agreed to coordinate research and surveys to propose the upgrade and expansion of the road connecting Ta Oi district in Salavan province to Nong district in Savannakhet province to meet transportation needs for coal shipments from Laos to Vietnam. Additionally, assessments will be conducted to reach an agreement on upgrading the road leading to Border Marker 618, currently under development by Quang Tri province, and evaluating border road accessibility.

Quang Tri province has proposed that Salavan province support the recognition of the Quang Tri (Vietnam) - Salavan (Laos) - Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand) Economic Corridor (PARA-EWEC). This endorsement would enable the Lao government to officially approve the establishment of the corridor and other related initiatives.

The Quang Tri Provincial Steering Committee for Vietnam-Laos Border Affairs provided financial assistance of approximately USD4,000 to the Salavan Provincial Steering Committee for Laos-Vietnam Border Affairs. Photo: Tien Nhat

On this occasion, the Quang Tri Provincial Steering Committee for Vietnam-Laos Border Affairs provided financial assistance of approximately USD4,000 to the Salavan Provincial Steering Committee for Laos-Vietnam Border Affairs.

As part of its visit to Salavan, the Quang Tri delegation, led by Acting Chairman of the People’s Committee Ha Sy Dong, paid a courtesy visit to Dao-vong Phon-keo, a member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Governor of Salavan province.

During the meeting, Governor Dao-vong Phon-keo highly valued the cooperation between the border affairs committees of both provinces, which has facilitated exchanges and mutual learning among departments, sectors, and localities. He also briefed the Quang Tri delegation on Salavan’s key economic and social achievements in 2024 and its development plans for 2025. The province is currently preparing for its Party Congress at various levels and undertaking critical administrative restructuring efforts.

Governor Dao-vong Phon-keo expressed gratitude to Quang Tri province for its extensive support across multiple sectors and hoped to attract more Vietnamese businesses to invest in Salavan. He also emphasized the importance of further strengthening cooperative projects between the two provinces as part of Salavan’s long-term development strategy.

Acting Chairman Ha Sy Dong provided an update on Vietnam’s efforts to streamline administrative structures from the central to local levels, ensuring operational effectiveness and efficiency. He highlighted measures being implemented to achieve a growth target of over 8%.

With a significant workload planned for 2025, Quang Tri province is actively advancing key infrastructure projects, including roads, highways, airports, and seaports, to drive economic growth. The province is also intensifying investment promotion efforts to establish itself as a regional energy hub.

One notable initiative is the planned construction of a road linking La Lay International Border Gate to the Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone and My Thuy Port. This new corridor is expected to run parallel to the East-West Economic Corridor, boosting economic integration among provinces in the region.

During the visit, Acting Chairman Ha Sy Dong conveyed greetings from Quang Tri Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Long Hai to Governor Dao-vong Phon-keo and formally invited the Salavan delegation to visit Quang Tri at the earliest opportunity. The visit aims to foster deeper cooperation between the two provinces in the near future.