Leaders of the central province of Quang Nam and Lao province of Sekong have agreed to organise cultural exchanges between them during 2012 to mark the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Year.

The activities are also to celebrate the 35 th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty and 50 years of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties.

Accordingly, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam will collaborate with the Department of Information, Culture and Tourism of Sekong to hold cultural exchange between the districts of Nam Giang and Tay Giang of Quang Nam and Dak Chung and Ka Lum of Sekong.

Added to this, Lao art troupes will be invited to perform in Quang Nam province.

The two departments will also coordinate to restore relics of the Lower Lao resistance base and the headquarters of the Border Administrative Committee of Southern Central Region in Quang Nam province to welcome tourists from the two countries.

According to Lieng Kham Phun, Vice Mayor of Sekong province, border localities between Quang Nam and Sekong provinces have exchanged information and culture regularly.

Tay Giang and Nam Giang districts of Quang Nam province have provided salt, rice and farming tools for people in Sekong province.

Young people in Quang Nam often implement charitable activities in Sekong’s border areas, such as providing free medical check-ups, medicines and presenting gifts to poor people and outstanding students.

These activities have helped not only increase mutual understanding between people in the two provinces but also tighten Vietnam-Laos long lasting traditional friendship, he said.-VNA