Border provinces of Vietnam and Laos have taken activities to promote investment, cooperation and exchange of visits, helping increase better understanding and foster friendship. At a conference to promote investment in Laos’ Xieng Khouang province, held in the central province of Nghe An on August 25, leaders of both localities committed to creating the most favourable conditions they can for businesses to seek cooperation and investment opportunities. Nghe An has invested in six projects in Xieng Khouang, mainly in agriculture, industry, mining, mineral processing and tourism sectors, said Ho Duc Phuoc, Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Nghe An. Sharing a 120km border with Nghe An, Xieng Khouang ranks sixth among Lao provinces attracting huge investment from Vietnam. With its strength in agriculture, forestry, hydro-electricity and tourism, the northern Lao province is ready to cooperate with and offers intensives to Vietnamese firms, particularly those from Nghe An, said Somkot Mangnomek, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Governor of Xieng Khoang province. Also on the same day, authorities of the Lao province of Champassak and the Vietnamese province of Quang Tri met in Quang Tri to discuss their future cooperation, especially in socio-economic development and social order and security. They agreed to exert efforts to soon put into operation road 15A, helping shorten travel time and facilitate localities and businesses’ cooperation.-VNA