Journalist: Could you please provide an overview of the characteristics, traditions, and advantages of Dong Thap in fostering cooperation with Laos?

Mr. Tran Tri Quang: Vietnam and Laos share a profound friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation across all fields, a bond established by President Hồ Chí Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane. This relationship has been nurtured and developed over time by generations of leaders and revolutionaries from both countries.

Based on this excellent bilateral relationship, Dong Thap province established a friendly cooperative relationship with Salavan province in the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2013, following a visit by Mr. Le Vinh Tan, then Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee. This foundation has allowed Dong Thap to annually organize delegations to visit, work with, share experiences, and celebrate the traditional Bunpimay festival in Laos.

On September 27, 2017, Dong Thap and Champasak provinces signed a memorandum of cooperation in several areas of strength, such as agriculture and ornamental plants. Notably, they have cooperated in training Lao personnel and students at universities and colleges in Dong Thap.

Dong Thap has signed memoranda of understanding with both Salavan and Champasak provinces and maintains exchange and support relationships with Huaphan province and Vientiane capital.

Dong Thap's advantages lie in its economic and social similarities with Lao provinces, particularly its agriculture-based economy. Key strengths such as fruit cultivation, ornamental plants, and aquaculture are notable highlights that Lao provinces value and wish to exchange and share knowledge about. Specifically, in March 2024, a delegation from Munlapamok district in Champasak, led by Secretary and District Chief Vannasak Xattakoun, visited Dong Thap to learn about agricultural production models. During the meetings, Munlapamok's delegation expressed a desire to establish a sister-city relationship with a locality in Dong Thap and have Dong Thap experts visit Champasak to transfer techniques and guide cultivation of certain exemplary agricultural models, such as mango and ornamental plant cultivation.

Journalist: The recent cooperative activities between Dong Thap province and Salavan and Champasak provinces in Laos have yielded significant results. Could you highlight some of the key achievements?

Mr. Tran Tri Quang: The 13th Party Congress outlined the policy of "building a comprehensive, modern diplomacy based on three pillars: Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and People-to-People diplomacy" - a guiding principle for each locality’s foreign affairs.

First, regarding Party diplomacy, the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party are united by their commitment to socialism, with the people at the center. Thus, in Party diplomacy, the leadership of Dong Thap province and their Lao counterparts share a common vision, making it easy to discuss and delve into key issues such as "enhancing the Party's leadership capacity, strengthening the great national unity bloc, and ensuring solid political stability." Additionally, leaders from both Parties regularly exchange congratulatory letters and messages on major events, holidays, and festivals. Most recently, a delegation led by Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Mr. Phan Van Thang, visited and held talks with the leadership of Champasak province, further strengthening the Party and People-to-People diplomacy between the two Parties.

Second, in State diplomacy, we have concretized the Party’s foreign policy through memoranda of understanding between Dong Thap and the provinces of Salavan and Champasak. Annually, the Provincial People’s Committee organizes delegations to visit, exchange experiences, and discuss cooperation in various fields with Lao provincial authorities. A standout achievement is in human resource training. Since 2017, Dong Thap has provided scholarships for 97 students from Champasak, Salavan, and Huaphan provinces to study at Dong Thap Medical College and Dong Thap Community College. Additionally, we facilitate frequent visits by delegations from provincial departments and sectors for professional exchange, experience sharing, and promotion of trade, tourism, and investment.

Third, in People-to-People diplomacy, during annual visits, there are always delegations led by the Provincial Party Committee, the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, and the Young Entrepreneurs Association to engage in People-to-People diplomacy. These visits enhance friendship, cultural understanding, and relations between the people. This has significantly contributed to the comprehensive cooperation between Dong Thap and the Lao provinces.

Journalist: In the coming time, what directions and solutions does the province plan to implement to jointly develop and further strengthen the solidarity and friendship between Dong Thap and the Lao provinces?

Mr. Tran Tri Quang: The province will continue to effectively implement the Foreign Affairs Project between Dong Thap and the provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic for the period 2021 - 2025, focusing on cooperative relations with the two provinces with which we have signed Memoranda of Understanding, Salavan and Champasak.

To concretize the contents of the memoranda of understanding with the Lao provincial authorities, the Provincial People's Committee will focus on supporting Laos in human resource training, especially in the healthcare sector. This is a strength of our province, and through this initiative, we aim to develop a generation with deep professional expertise and understanding of Dong Thap's language and culture. These individuals will serve as bridges, ensuring the robust and dynamic continuation of the great friendship and special solidarity between Dong Thap and the Lao provinces.

In the long term, the province will direct suitable units and localities to establish twinning relationships and support their counterparts in Champasak and Salavan in implementing various scientific and technical transfer models in agriculture and light industry. Through this, we will create effective and sustainable cooperation models, fully embodying the image of Dong Thap's people as "Kind-hearted, Dynamic, and Creative" in the hearts of our Lao colleagues and friends, thereby contributing to the everlasting and enduring relationship between Vietnam and Laos.