Dien Bien, northern Lao localities seek to boost friendship, cooperation

The relationship between Dien Bien and the northern provinces of Laos is a vivid testament to the special solidarity between the two countries, said Vice Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Senior Lieutenant General Suvon Luongbunmi.

At the working session (Photo: VNA)
At the working session (Photo: VNA)

Dien Bien (VNA) - A delegation of the Lao National Assembly (NA) led by its Vice Chairman Senior Lieutenant General Suvon Luongbunmi visited the northern province of Dien Bien on April 24 to seek ways to enhance cooperation between northern Lao provinces and the Vietnamese locality.

The two sides discussed the results of their cooperation, shared experience in monitoring work, and implementing strategic projects for socio-economic and infrastructure development. They also pointed out measures to maintain security and stability in border areas.

Chairman of the Dien Bien provincial People’s Committee Le Thanh Do briefed the Lao delegation on the outcomes of friendly cooperation between Dien Bien and the northern provinces of Laos. He affirmed that the solidarity between the people of Dien Bien and the northern Lao provinces has played an important role in strengthening and deepening the close relationship between the two sides.

Suvon Luongbunmi thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people, particularly Dien Bien province, for significant support for their Lao counterparts. He spoke highly of achievements in bilateral cooperation and mutual support across fields.

The relationship between Dien Bien and the northern provinces of Laos is a vivid testament to the special solidarity between the two countries, he stressed.

The Lao official expressed his belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese people will continue to achieve greater accomplishments in the Doi moi (renewal) process, successfully realising the goals set by the 13th National Party Congress.

Secretary of the Dien Bien provincial Party Committee Tran Quoc Cuong suggested the Lao NA Vice Chairman continue to support and direct efforts to strengthen cooperation between the northern Lao provinces of Phongsaly, Oudomxay, and Luang Prabang, and Dien Bien province, particularly in people-to-people exchange, cooperation in culture, healthcare and education, especially among young people.

He urged the two sides to strengthen collaboration in combating crimes, notably drug-related ones and separatist activities, as well as in tracking down wanted criminals, while maintaining security and order along the shared border.

Since August 2022, the total trade between Dien Bien and the Lao localities has exceeded 140 million USD. During this period, Dien Bien has provided financial support worth 2.49 billion VND to the Lao localities for infrastructure development and agro-forestry production models.

Every year, Dien Bien provides scholarships to students and offers intermediate-level political theory training and other courses for 30 officials and civil servants from the Lao side.

National defence and security activities are consistently promoted through communication and education, thus encouraging citizens of the two countries to respect and comply with each other's laws and customs, and strictly abide by border regulations, contributing to building a border area of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, while reducing cases of illegal immigration.

People-to-people diplomacy has been facilitted by Dien Bien and the Lao localities, with the initiative to develop “village-to-village” twinning models. Currently, eight Lao village clusters have established twinning ties with border communes and villages in Dien Bien along the border areas managed by Dien Bien and the provinces of Phongsaly and Luang Prabang./.

VNA

See more

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet on May 13. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister receives French Ambassador

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested Vietnam and France promote collaboration in economy, trade, investment, culture, heritage, architecture, and education and training, while also expanding into new areas.

Party General Secretary To Lam (L) holds talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Photo: VNA)

Party chief’s multi-nation tour yields positive outcomes: Deputy PM

Son said beyond opening a new chapter of cooperation with traditional friends from the former Soviet Union, the eight-day tour not only reinforced but also renewed and redefined Vietnam’s relationships with these countries, based on the long-standing friendship nurtured by generations of leaders and people of Vietnam and the respective nations.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung (Photo: VNA)

Thai PM’s upcoming visit to Vietnam hoped to lift bilateral ties to new heights: Ambassador

Hung described the visit as an important milestone, contributing to elevating the Vietnam–Thailand relations to a new height. It will help strongly reinforce political trust and mutual understanding between their leaders, presenting an opportunity to fully review cooperation areas, address obstacles, and agree on major directions and specific measures to create fresh momentum for the bilateral ties.

A view of the 9th session of the 15 National Assembly (NA). (Photo: VNA)

Lawmakers look into draft law on science, technology and innovation

Notably, it introduces policies allowing research institutions to own and make independent decisions regarding research outcomes and assets derived from their work. Researchers will be entitled to at least 30% of the profits from commercialisation and are allowed to establish and manage businesses.

Vietnam is commemorating the 135th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh. (Photo: VNA)

Remarkable encounter between President Ho Chi Minh, Israel’s first PM

While researching the life of Ben-Gurion, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s correspondent in Israel unexpectedly found a special connection between the two leaders in 1946 when both were in Paris, seeking international support for their nations’ struggle for independence. President Ho Chi Minh and Israeli PM Ben-Gurion, drawn together by their countries’ shared history and indomitable spirit in the fight for freedom, engaged in conversations for around two weeks.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse leave Minsk for Hanoi in the evening of May 12. (Photo: VNA)

Party chief successfully wraps up state visit to Belarus

The Party General Secretary’s visit was of important significance as it not only deepened trust between Vietnam and its traditional partners but also reaffirmed Vietnam’s enduring commitment to strengthening ties with countries of the former Soviet Union, including Belarus

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam (L) and Belarusian Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin. (Photo: VNA)

Party General Secretary meets with Belarusian PM

PM Turchin highly appreciated the significance of General Secretary Lam's state visit to Belarus, saying that the trip once again affirmed the trustful political relationship between the two countries and opened a new page in the history of bilateral cooperation with the two countries upgrading their relations to a Strategic Partnership.

PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa on May 12. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam values all-around cooperation with Sweden: PM

The Vietnamese Government and people always remember and value Sweden’s sincere and invaluable support during the country’s past struggle for independence and in its current process of development and global integration, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said.

The talks between Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Minsk on May 12, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Party leader, Belarusian President hold talks

The two leaders applauded the recent progress of economic, trade, and investment ties, agreeing on the necessity to further tap into the cooperation potential generated by the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), of which Belarus is a member.