5:43:09 PM | 7/12/2011
Vietnam and Laos are close neighbours with a long traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation initiated by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane, built up and consolidated by generations of two governments and peoples. At present, this special relationship is growing well both in dimension and depth, and brings in great effects for both countries.
Alongside continuous development of Vietnam - Laos friendly relations, friendly relations between Dong Nai and Laotian provinces are thriving. Dong Nai province always encourages and supports companies in the province to invest and do business in Laos. Currently, two companies in the province are investing in Laos, including Tin Nghia Corporation and Long Thanh Golf Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company (investing in resorts, coffee farms, cashew farms, luxury vacation property and golf courses with total value amounting to US$1 billion in 2008). At the same time, Dong Nai warmly welcomes and readily creates favourable conditions for Lao enterprises to do business and seek partners in Dong Nai.
Besides, to strengthen the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation of the two peoples, on April 8, 2009, Chairman of Dong Nai People’s Committee issued Decision 961/QD-UBND establishing the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association in Dong Nai Province. Since its establishment, the association called its first meeting on June 26, 2009 to elect the Steering Board in the first term (2009 - 2014). Currently, the association has set up 11 branches with over 400 members from all walks of life in the province, including veterans, people previously living, studying and working in Laos, and military volunteers in Lao battlefields. The association has organised many practical activities. Particularly, in August 2011, with the permit from the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee, the Steering Board of the Vietnam - Lao Friendship Association in Dong Nai Province worked with relevant agencies in Champasak province of Laos to send teams of Dong Nai officials and physicians to provide free healthcare and disease treatment for people in Champasak. Recently, Dong Nai province granted VND200 million aid for Champasak to deal with the aftermath of Nok Ten tropical storm.
In the past time, Dong Nai province's leaders have given special care to boosting friendly relations with foreign localities, including localities in Laos. In June 2010, at the invitation of the Lao Standing Deputy Prime Minister, Dong Nai province sent an official and business delegation to visit and work with some localities in Laos, including Champasak province. The visiting delegation brought home good results. It also spoke high of fast-growing economic and social development in Champasak province, evidence of the versatility and sensitivity of the provincial administration.
Following their meetings and information exchange, the leaders of Dong Nai province and Champasak province agreed to promote bilateral comprehensive cooperation. According to the minutes of the bilateral meeting from June 21 to 23, 2011, the Champasak delegation led by Provincial Governor Sonexay Champasak paid a working visit to Dong Nai and signed a memorandum of understanding on two-way cooperation in economy, culture, education, science and technology in the period from 2011 to 2015. To realise signed contents, the People’s Committee of Dong Nai province has delivered its instructions to relevant agencies to build action programmes.
This is a vivid example of the solidarity and friendship between the two localities. After this event, both sides strive to promote strengths and focus on key fields of mutual interest to execute the cooperation programme in the coming time.
Trung Dung
Vietnamese
