Vietnam’s northwestern province of Hoa Binh and Laos’s northeastern province of Houaphan on January 22 inked a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in health care, trade, investment, agriculture, and tourism.

The document was signed during the visit to Hoa Binh by Houaphan Governor Khamhung Huongvongsi, who is also Secretary of the provincial committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.

Accordingly, the provinces consented to intensify their friendship and collaboration on the basis of mutual respect and equality in conformity with each country’s law and policy and international conditions approved by the two countries.

Hoa Binh will also partly assist the Lao side in upgrading the latter’s general hospital.

During their working session, officials briefed each other on their socio-economic status in 2014. Houaphan, which borders Vietnam, saw a fair economic growth and it owns potential for the development of hydropower, mining, industrial trees, and animal husbandry.

Meanwhile, Hoa Binh, neighbouring the capital city of Hanoi, enjoyed an average annual growth of 10.3 percent and has advantages in agro-forestry products, building materials, and ecotourism.-VNA