The Chairman of the People’s Committee for northern Hai Duong provinceNguyen Manh Hien, has pledged to call for more local businesses toinvest in the Lao northern mountainous province of Phongsaly.
The provincial authority made the promise at a meeting with a delegation from Phongsaly, in Hai Duong province, on March 11.
InHai Duong, the Party and local authorities, along with the people, havealways had a soft spot for people from Laos and are keen to helpeducate the younger generation about the special relationship thatexists between both countries, said Hien.
The Governor andSecretary of the Party Committee for Phongsaly province KhamjaneVongphasy that his province is one of the poorest provinces in Laos.With 15 different ethnic groups across seven districts, the province haswitnessed its socio-economic development programme being fullysupported by Vietnam, particularly its twin province, Dien Bien.
Lastyear its annual per-capita income was 533 USD, he said, adding that theprovince currently has 66 investment projects in operation, including34 funded from overseas, worth 50.5 million USD.
He said he hoped that the leaders of both provinces will step up the frequency of their visits.
At present, Hai Duong has established strong links with four areas in Laos, including Vientiane.
Sinceestablishing relations with Phongsaly in 1984, the two localities havebeefed up cooperation in various fields: agriculture, planning andinvestment, sports-culture, trade-tourism, education-training andfinance./.