Lam Dong strengthens cooperative ties with Champasak Province (Lao PDR)

Representing Lam Dong Province were Pham Thi Phuc, Deputy Secretary of the Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Lam Dong Province; Pham Trieu, Member of the Standing Board of the Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Lam Dong Province; Ha Thi Hanh, Member of the Standing Board of the Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Lam Dong Province, together with representatives from provincial departments and agencies.

The Champasak delegation was headed by Vadsana Silima, Member of the Standing Board of the Champasak Provincial Party Committee and President of the Lao Front for National Development of Champasak Province. The delegation also included officials from the provincial Lao Front for National Development and representatives from several districts of Champasak Province.

During the meeting, leaders of the two provinces exchanged views on socio-economic development, reviewed the results of previous cooperation and agreed to further expand bilateral cooperation during the 2026–2030 period.

In her welcoming speech, Pham Thi Phuc affirmed that the "great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic partnership" between Vietnam and Laos constitute an invaluable asset that should continue to be preserved and strengthened. On that foundation, Lam Dong has consistently attached great importance to enhancing cooperation with Lao localities, particularly Champasak Province.

Pham Thi Phuc noted that cooperation between the two provinces has achieved positive results across multiple sectors. Lam Dong has sent 10 official delegations to Champasak while receiving 15 delegations from the Lao province for working visits.

In agriculture, Lam Dong has welcomed numerous agricultural technicians from Champasak for training while dispatching more than 15 expert delegations to transfer techniques in cold-water aquaculture and high-tech vegetable and flower production. The province has also supported fisheries infrastructure, donated 6,700 fish fingerlings and implemented technical-transfer models.

In education, Lam Dong has for many years supported infrastructure development at the Champasak–Lam Dong Friendship High School for Gifted Students, sent teachers to provide instruction, maintained scholarships for students from Champasak studying at Da Lat University, and contributed US$1 million toward the construction of Pakse Primary School.

People-to-people diplomacy has also been maintained through practical initiatives, including COVID-19 assistance, the construction of solidarity houses, and donations of computers and educational supplies to local schools.

Lam Dong's leaders expressed their hope that both sides would continue building on existing achievements by translating the 2026–2030 Memorandum of Understanding into practical cooperation programs involving local authorities, the Fatherland Front and relevant agencies.

On behalf of the delegation, Vadsana Silima expressed her pleasure at visiting Lam Dong Province and sincerely thanked the provincial leadership for their warm and gracious hospitality.

She highly appreciated the special friendship and practical support that the Party organization, government and people of Lam Dong have extended to Champasak over many years, particularly in education, vocational training, agriculture, social welfare and human resource development.

According to Vadsana Silima, these cooperative programs have not only contributed to Champasak's socio-economic development but have also served as vivid examples of the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.

The head of the delegation affirmed that Champasak Province would continue working closely with Lam Dong to effectively implement the agreed areas of cooperation, strengthen delegation exchanges, and share experience in political system development, high-tech agriculture, education and training, as well as Fatherland Front activities.

The President of the Lao Front for National Development of Champasak Province expressed confidence that cooperation between the two provinces would continue to deepen, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both localities while further strengthening the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.