Vietnamese and Lao localities expand cooperation across the board

(VNA) -- Delegations from Vietnam’s Lao Cai province and Laos’ Bokeo province have held talks in Luang Prabang, signing a cooperation agreement for 2026 to boost bilateral ties across economics, education, security, and local development.
During talks on the afternoon of July 31 in Luang Prabang province, northern Laos, delegations from Vietnam’s Lao Cai province and Laos’ Bokeo province reviewed socio-economic achievements and charted future cooperation directions.
The Lao Cai delegation was led by Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council Hoang Giang. The Bokeo delegation was headed by Member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Major General Penkham Boutchanpheng. Leaders of relevant provincial departments also attended the meeting.
Speaking at the talks, Hoang Giang stressed that the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos have been painstakingly cultivated by generations of leaders and people.
Strengthening local-level cooperation plays a vital role in tightening bilateral ties and opening new cooperation opportunities across economy, trade, investment, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

At the signing ceremony for the 2026 cooperation agreement between Vietnam’s Lao Cai province and Laos’ Bokeo province.

Giang briefed the meeting on Lao Cai’s development following its merger with Yen Bai province. Spanning over 13,200 square kilometres with a population of nearly 1.8 million across 34 ethnic groups, the province serves as an important bridge linking Vietnam with southwestern China via the Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh economic corridor.
In the first half of 2026, Lao Cai’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) grew by 9.01 percent, while state budget revenue is projected to exceed VND 11 trillion. The province is currently channeling resources into strategic infrastructure projects, including the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway, the expansion of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway, Sa Pa Airport, and freight terminals, to drive development and enhance international connectivity.
For her part, Major General Penkham Boutchanpheng emphasised that the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam are an invaluable, peerless, and unbreakable asset deeply embedded in the blood and flesh of both nations.
She outlined Bokeo’s socio-economic and security developments, highly praising the effective cooperation between the specialised agencies of both provinces, particularly in security, education, and training.
Acknowledging Bokeo’s progress, Giang noted that the province boasts great geo-economic advantages as Laos’ northern gateway connecting with Thailand, Myanmar, and China.
With strengths in commerce, transportation, agriculture, tourism, and border trade, Bokeo shares numerous similarities with Lao Cai, creating favourable conditions for practical cooperation programs that meet new development demands.
The focal point of the talks was the signing ceremony for the 2026 cooperation agreement between the People’s Committee of Lao Cai province and the provincial government of Bokeo. Under the agreement, both sides agreed to maintain regular high-level delegations to share management experience and advance joint projects.
In the economic sphere, Lao Cai will provide VND 5 billion to support Bokeo in building a high school in Huayxai district, a project with a total investment of approximately US$1 million. Upon completion, the facility will be named the “Lao Cai - Bokeo Friendship Cooperation Project,” serving as a vivid symbol of solidarity and cooperation between the two localities.
In education, during the 2026-2027 academic year, Lao Cai will receive 15 students from Bokeo for Vietnamese language training before they enter educational institutions in the province. The two sides will also continue organising visits and meetings for Lao students during traditional New Year celebrations in Vietnam and Laos.
They also concurred to bolster defence cooperation through meetings and experience exchanges between their respective provincial military commands as a contribution to safeguarding security and order for development.
Beyond the signed agreement, provincial leaders agreed to expand cooperation in administrative reform, digital transformation, investment and trade promotion, transportation, agriculture, tourism, human resource training, healthcare, culture, and youth and people exchanges.
Both sides affirmed their commitment to maintaining regular communication channels between provincial departments and fostering business partnerships to generate fresh momentum for local socio-economic development.
The signing of the cooperation agreement reaffirms the traditional friendship between Lao Cai and Bokeo, while demonstrating the determination of both local leaderships to materialise bilateral cooperation policies.
This serves as an important foundation for both provinces to effectively utilise their respective strengths, boost connectivity, and contribute to strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

(Latest Update August 4, 2026)