Dien Bien (VNA) - A delegation of the Lao National Assembly (NA) led ಌby its Vice Chairman Senior Lieutenant General Suvon Luongbunmi visited the northern province of Dien Bien on April 24 to seek ways to enhance cooperation between northern Lao provinces and the Vietnamese locality.

The two sides discussed the results of their cooperation, shared experience in monitoring work, and implementing strategic projects for socio-economic and infrastructure development. They also pointed out measures to maintain security and stability in border areas. Chairman of the Dien Bien provincial People’s Committee Le Thanh Do briefed the Lao delegation on the outcomes of friendly cooperation between Dien Bien and the northern provinces of Laos. He affirmed that the solidarity between the people of Dien Bien and the northern Lao provinces has played an important role in strengthening and deepening the close relationship between the two sides. Suvon Luongbunmi thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people, particularly Dien Bien province, for significant support for their Lao counterparts. He spoke highly of achievements in bilateral cooperation and mutual support across fields. The relationship between Dien Bien and the northern provinces of Laos is a vivid testament to the special solidarity between the two countries, he stressed. The Lao official expressed his belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese people will continue to achieve greater accomplishments in the Doi moi (renewal) process, successfully realising the goals set by the 13th National Party Congress. Secretary of the Dien Bien provincial Party Committee Tran Quoc Cuong suggested the Lao NA Vice Chairman continue to support and direct efforts to strengthen cooperation between the northern Lao provinces of Phongsaly, Oudomxay, and Luang Prabang, and Dien Bien province, particularly in people-to-people exchange, cooperation in culture, healthcare and education, especially among young people. He urged the two sides to strengthen collaboration in combating crimes, notably drug-related ones and separatist activities, as well as in tracking down wanted criminals, while maintaining security and order along the shared border. Since August 2022, the total trade between Dien Bien and the Lao localities has exceeded 140 million USD. During this period, Dien Bien has provided financial support worth 2.49 billion VND to the Lao localities for infrastructure development and agro-forestry production models. Every year, Dien Bien provides scholarships to students and offers intermediate-level political theory training and other courses for 30 officials and civil servants from the Lao side. National defence and security activities are consistently promoted through communication and education, thus encouraging citizens of the two countries to respect and comply with each other's laws and customs, and strictly abide by border regulations, contributing to building a border area of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, while reducing cases of illegal immigration. People-to-people diplomacy has been facilitted by Dien Bien and the Lao localities, with the initiative to develop “village-to-village” twinning models. Currently, eight Lao village clusters have established twinning ties with border communes and villages in Dien Bien along the border areas managed by Dien Bien and the provinces of Phongsaly and Luang Prabang./.