Leaders of 9 provinces, 3 countries Vietnam - Laos - Thailand met to discuss promoting cooperation

(Baonghean.vn) - The 21st preparatory conference of the provinces of Vietnam - Laos - Thailand used Highway 8 and Highway 12 to carefully prepare for the official conference in January 2018 in Nong Khai, Thailand.

On the morning of November 9, in Vinh City, the 21st preparatory conference of the provinces of Vietnam - Laos - Thailand using Highway 8 and Highway 12 took place. Attending the conference were delegates from the provinces of Bung Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai (Thailand); Bolikhamxay, Khammouane (Laos) and Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Nghe An (Vietnam). On the side of Nghe An province, there was comrade Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, representatives of leaders of departments, branches and sectors. Photo: TG

Over the years, the Association of 9 provinces of 3 countries Vietnam - Laos - Thailand using Highway 8 and Highway 12 (abbreviated as APOTC) has exchanged, cooperated and achieved remarkable achievements in the fields of trade, culture, education, science and technology, transportation, agriculture, sports and tourism; contributing to enhancing the friendly and cooperative relationship between the 3 countries for peace, stability and development in the region.

In his welcoming speech, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa emphasized: "This conference is responsible for reviewing the implementation of commitments at the 20th Summit, analyzing the situation and cooperation potential, identifying key areas and ways of cooperation to ensure greater effectiveness and practicality."

Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa delivered a welcome speech at the conference. Photo: TG

To prepare carefully for the official conference to take place in Nong Khai province (Thailand) in February 2018, comrade Le Ngoc Hoa suggested that the preparatory conference focus on discussing and finding solutions to issues that have been mentioned for many years, such as: requesting the Governments of Laos and Thailand to add routes 8 and 12 to the Framework Agreement on facilitating the transport of people and goods between the Mekong Subregion countries; promoting administrative procedure reform to enjoy preferential mechanisms, speeding up cooperation in the region...

"Hopefully, our nine provinces will be determined to build a stable, close, practical and effective cooperation area of ​​the Mekong Sub-region countries, contributing to the prosperous development of the ASEAN Community," - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa hoped.

The representative of Bung Kan province (Thailand) proposed to add some contents and directions for cooperation in the coming time to the memorandum of understanding. Photo: TG

At the conference, APOTC member provinces listened to and gave their opinions on the summary report on the implementation of the Minutes of the 20th Summit of 9 provinces of Vietnam - Laos - Thailand using Route 8 and Route 12 signed on March 8, 2017 in Bung Kan province, Thailand.

After the secretariat has compiled and completed the minutes, this afternoon (November 9), the delegations will attend the signing ceremony of the minutes of the 21st preparatory conference.

Thu Giang