Vietnam’s central province of Quang Tri and its neighbouring Lao province of Savannakhet agreed to further cooperation in politics, economy, culture and education, as well as in national defence and security in 2011-2013.

A memorandum of understanding on the cooperation was inked during a working visit to Quang Tri on July 19 by Secretary of the Savannakhet provincial Party Committee and Governor Souphan Keomisay.

The two sides agreed to study the content, plan, measures and mechanisms of their cooperation within the framework of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperative Strategy in 2011-2020.

They looked into how to take advantage of the East-West economic corridor, including the construction of the Lao Bao special trade and economic zone and the Densavan border economic zone.

Quang Tri pledged to provide Savannakhet with 6 billion VND to aid the implementation of its priority cooperative projects in education and training, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure in border areas.

During the visit, the hosts and guests reviewed their cooperation in 2009-2010, saying the two localities’ cooperation in tourism, education and training, science and technology was practical.

In national defence and security, the two sides cooperated in preventing and fighting crime – particularly smuggling and drug trafficking along the common border – contributing to building a border of peace and friendship.

The two sides completed the planting of 31 out of 35 markers along the shared border.

With Savannakhet’s assistance, in 2010 and the first six months of 2011, Quang Tri found and repatriated remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts fallen in Laos during the war.

During the reviewed period, Quang Tri provided Savannakhet with 1.5 billion VND to build a school in Muang Nong district./.