Vietnam, Laos Localities Bolster Cooperation, Reaffirm Special Friendship

Cooperation between Vietnamese and Lao localities is being strengthened, reaffirming the "special friendship" between the two nations and contributing to regional development. Many major drug trafficking operations have been successfully dismantled thanks to effective coordination between Vietnamese and Lao authorities, showcasing joint efforts against common challenges. Oudomxay Governor Vongsavanh Saynhavong praised Dien Bien’s socio-economic progress and governance reforms, stating its experience in administrative restructuring, decentralisation, and digitalisation is valuable for Oudomxay’s own process. Furthermore, a delegation from Laos' Champasak province, led by Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Governor Alounxay Sounnalath, visited and held discussions with leaders of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on January 14. These local-level exchanges play a crucial role in fostering mutual understanding and trust at the grassroots level. Under its one-party system, Vietnam is pursuing socialist construction while balancing economic growth with strengthened international relations. Particularly concerning China, Vietnam maintains a cautious approach to sensitive issues like territorial disputes while deepening economic ties. The current strengthening of cooperation with Laos is positioned as part of Vietnam's foreign policy aimed at regional stability and development. UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis highlighted Vietnam's transformative journey from post-war reconstruction and poverty reduction to economic integration and sustainable development as valuable experience it brings to multilateral cooperation. This suggests that lessons learned from Vietnam's remarkable path as an upper-middle-income country can contribute to international development. Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, and the multilateralisation and diversification of external relations. The strengthening of cooperation with Laos is understood within this context. Information Source: VietnamPlus English