Senior leaders from the northern port city of Hai Phong and Vientiane province in Laos met in the Laos capital on June 12 to discuss measures to strengthen ties in the future, especially in economics, trade and tourism.

The Hai Phong delegation at the meeting was led by Nguyen Van Thuan, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the city’s People’s Council and the Vientiane delegation was headed by its Party Secretary Chansi Phosivanh.

Both parties informed each other on the current state of their socio-economic development, their potentials and strengths as well as policies to attract investment.

The Vientiane leader praised the Hai Phong people for their assistance to his province in building schools, providing technical equipment, seedlings and Vietnamese language training for Laos officials.

The Hai Phong Party Secretary confirmed that strengthening links with Laos in general and with Vientiane province in particular is a priority task for the Hai Phong authorities and its people.

However, the bilateral cooperation has only covered a few fields so far such as agriculture, seafood, education and training, he said, adding that in the future, both should build a common principle of cooperation in the spirit of the Vietnam-Laos special friendship.

On June 11, the Hai Phong delegation was received by Laos Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, who stated that the delegation’s visit would begin a new chapter in the relationship between Hai Phong and Laos in general and with Vientiane city and Vientiane province in particular./.