Lao Party General Secretary and State President Choummaly Sayasone has expressed his wish that cooperation between the central city of Da Nang and Lao localities will develop further in the future.

During his meeting with municipal leaders on August 9, the Lao leader said that during past years, many high-ranking delegations from the Lao Party and State have visited Da Nang city, while the Vietnamese city annually sent delegations to Lao localities.

According to municipal leaders, Da Nang city has signed 24 agreements and memoranda of understanding with Lao localities, such as the capital city of Vientiane , Savannakhet, Champassak, Sekong, Saravan, Bolikhamsay and Sayaburi provinces.

In 2009, the Da Nang municipal People’s Committee decided to set up a management board of Southern Laos projects based in Pakse town, Champassak province to address issues relating to cooperative programmes between Da Nang and Lao localities.

Da Nang city reported an export turnover to Laos of over 12.7 million USD in the first five months of this year.

At present, four Da Nang companies have invested in Laos , with a total investment of nearly 52.3 million USD.

Between 2001 and July 2011, the city disbursed more than 56 billion VND in support for central and southern Lao provinces, focusing on agriculture, socio-economic planning, human resource training, transport and sports training.

The two sides’ travel companies have also cooperated in operating caravan tours from Thailand via Laos to Vietnam. /.