Vietnamese, Lao provinces enhance coordination in fighting COVID-19

Quang Tri (VNA) - Leaders of central Quang Tri province and the Lao province of Salavan attended a working session on April 8 to discuss coordination in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee Hoang Nam, it has quarantined 12,000 Vietnamese citizens returning from Laos and Thailand in Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces.

Authorities in Quang Tri, nestled on the Vietnam-Laos border, have deployed more than 80 border guard posts, of which 25 are located along the border with Salavan province.

They have strictly controlled entry and exit through border gates, trails, and paths, while organising campaigns calling on people on both sides to not pass through, Nam said.

The province has also facilitated import and export activities between the two sides in line with strict regulations on disease control, he stressed, adding that all the 120 Lao students pursuing studies in Quang Tri have received support and health care.

Nam expressed his hope that authorities in Salavan will continue to provide health care to Quang Tri locals in particular and Vietnamese citizens in general who are working and living in Laos.

For his part, Salavan's Deputy Governor Phuthong Khammanivong said it has taken drastic measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including coordinating with the Vietnamese side in controlling entry and exit at the La Lay International Border Gate and managing the import and export of goods at all border areas.

He thanked Quang Tri for the assistance given to Lao students, pledging to support and ensure health care is provided to Vietnamese workers still in Salavan.

The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation to effectively combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quang Tri authorities also presented medical supplies and equipment to Salavan on the same day./.