Ho Chi Minh City aims to finalize Memorandum of Understanding for 2026-2030 cooperation with Laos' Champasak Province
WVR - On the afternoon of March 26, Mr Pham Dut Diem, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs, held a working session with the delegation from Champasak Province, Laos, led by Director of the Champasak Department of Foreign Affairs Visun Keokhamphui. The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Department of Construction, Department of Finance, and various other city departments.
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| Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs Pham Dut Diem. |
During the meeting, both sides assessed the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation during 2022-2025, noting positive outcomes in political-foreign affairs, trade-investment, education-training, and people-to-people exchanges.
In the context of Ho Chi Minh City adjusting its administrative boundaries, the cooperation content has been inherited and flexibly implemented by both sides to suit the new situation. Educational cooperation remains a highlight, with Ho Chi Minh City granting 55 university and postgraduate scholarships annually to Champasak Province. Additionally, a high-level political theory training course is organized in Ho Chi Minh City for Champasak officials.
People-to-people exchange activities, especially the "Vietnamese Family with Lao Students Studying in Ho Chi Minh City" program, have been effectively maintained, contributing to strengthening the solidarity between the people of the two localities.
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| Director of the Champasak Department of Foreign Affairs Visun Keokhamphui. |
Based on this, the two sides discussed and agreed on the direction for drafting a Memorandum of Understanding for 2026-2030 cooperation between the Champasak Provincial Government and the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. The aim is to continue enhancing delegation exchanges, expanding trade-investment-tourism cooperation, promoting education-training for human resources, and boosting cultural-social exchanges and people-to-people diplomacy.
According to the draft Memorandum of Understanding for 2026-2030 cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Champasak Province, both parties agreed to maintain delegation exchanges at all levels, enhance the sharing of state management experiences, and coordinate between political-social organizations, thereby strengthening the cooperative relationship between the two localities.
Additionally, both sides will collaborate to develop plans for trade, investment, and tourism cooperation; promote the formation of business partnerships; develop joint tourism products; and organize promotional activities in both localities.
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| Scene of the working session. |
In the field of education-training, Ho Chi Minh City plans to continue granting scholarships annually, supporting short-term training for medical staff, implementing the "Vietnamese Family with Lao Students" program, enhancing exchanges of teachers and students, and fostering cooperation between educational institutions. Notably, the possibility of organizing a Lao-Vietnamese interpreter training course is being considered to supply high-quality interpreters for foreign affairs work in both localities and the two countries in general.
Both sides are also exploring the implementation of a joint cooperation project symbolizing the friendship between the two countries. They agreed to promote cultural-social exchange activities such as the "Green Summer" program for youth from both localities, cooperation between the two Fronts, organizing the Champasak-Ho Chi Minh City culture-trade week, and art performances and promotions of signature products.
The working session took place in an open and substantive atmosphere, aiming to complete the procedures for signing the Memorandum of Understanding for 2026-2030 cooperation as soon as possible.
