Vientiane (VNA) – Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and the Lao province of Savannakhet have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the formation of bilateral friendly and cooperative partnership to facilitate their ties’ growth in the future.

The MoU was signed by Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan and Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Savannakhet Santiphap Phomvihane on January 24 as part of the former’s visit to the Lao central province.

The MoU allows the two sides to increase delegation exchange and expand cooperation in all fields and create favourable conditions for businesses of both sides to invest in the respective countries.

Nhan said that the deal will create a firm foundation for the development of the two localities’ ties, facilitating the implementation of specific joint projects in the future.

He pledged that Ho Chi Minh City always work hard to preserve, reinforce and develop the special relations with Laos and Lao localities, including Savannakhet. He held that the Investment-Trade-Tourism Promotion Conference to three central Lao localities in July 2017 showed Vietnam’s determination to strengthen economic-trade ties with Laos and optimise the potential of their traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

The Ho Chi Minh City leader proposed that Savannakhet restore the historical relic site commemorating late President Ho Chi Minh, while coordinating with the city in seeking specific measures to increase investment to Savan Seno special economic zone.

Nhan expressed his hope that the two localities will further bolster economic cooperation. He also asked for Savannakhet’s support for enterprises from Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City to invest more in Savannakhet.

The same day, Nhan and the Ho Chi Minh City delegation paid tribute to late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane at their memorial sites in the province.-VNA
VNA