The Central Highlands province of Kon Tum and southern Sekong province of Laos have agreed to move their ties forward across the board, especially economics and border security defence.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed in Kon Tum on August 6, both sides will facilitate all-level visits, and propose new areas of cooperation while sharing experience in Party build-up, new rural development and poverty reduction in their border areas.

On trade activity, they will encourage business communities to explore chances in tourism, agriculture and mining via exhibitions.

The two provinces plan to upgrade the Dak Blo – Dak Ba border gate into a major one and ask the Vietnamese government for continuing supply of official development assistance to Laos’ Dak Bar commune, Dak Chung district.

To ensure border security, police, border defence and armed forces will hold regular talks, upgrade and increase the number of border markers planted in their localities.

Kon Tum and Sekong signed memoranda of understanding in 2010 and 2012. The former offered assistance in professional training and crime combat while the latter lent a helping hand in the search and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese experts and volunteer soldiers fallen in Laos.

Sekong also helped Kon Tum connect with the economic corridor linking central Vietnam with north-eastern Thailand via Bo Y international border gate.-VNA