Nghe An attends the preparatory conference of 9 provinces of 3 countries Vietnam - Laos - Thailand

Panorama of the 23rd preparatory conference of 9 provinces of 3 countries Vietnam - Laos - Thailand using Highway 8 and Highway 12 held in Bolikhamxay province. Photo: Le Thuy

Attending the Conference were delegations from the provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh (Vietnam), Bolikhamxay and Khammouane (Laos), Nakhon Phanom, Noong Khai and Bung Can (Thailand). The delegation of Nghe An province was led by Mr. Pham Van Toan - Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, along with leaders of the following units: Tourism, Industry and Trade, Planning and Investment, and Transport.

The delegation of Nghe An province led by Mr. Pham Van Toan - Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs attended the Conference. Photo: Le Thuy

The preparatory conference aims to assess the situation and results of the implementation of the minutes of the 22nd summit held in Ha Tinh province in September 2019, discuss cooperation contents in the coming time and carefully prepare for the 23rd Summit.

At the Conference, the delegations listened to reports on the results of cooperation between 9 provinces in implementing the contents of the Minutes of the 22nd Summit held in Ha Tinh province in September 2019 in the fields of education and training, trade and investment, science and technology, agriculture, transportation, tourism, culture and sports.

Currently, there are about 90 enterprises of Nghe An province directly investing and doing business in the provinces of Laos. The investment and business fields include: wood processing and trading, investment in infrastructure construction, mineral exploitation, hydropower, forest planting and exploitation, tourism, agricultural and aquatic products trading, consumer goods, etc.

There are 16 FDI projects from Thailand that have been granted Investment Registration Certificates in Nghe An province with a total registered investment capital of 265.27 million USD, including: 06 seafood processing, food and beverage processing projects; 02 mineral exploitation and processing projects; 04 trade and service projects; 01 footwear production project and 03 industrial park infrastructure investment and business projects.

Nghe An province has created all favorable conditions according to the plan of the Lao - Vietnamese Government for the project of building the Vientiane Capital - Pak Xan (Bolikhamxay) - Thanh Thuy (Nghe An) - Hanoi Capital Expressway. Currently, the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport has completed the project's Pre-Feasibility Study Report. Nghe An province and Bolikhamxay province have agreed on the expected location of the traffic point connecting the Hanoi - Vientiane Expressway on the border between the two sides of the Thanh Thuy (Nghe An) - Nam On (Bolikhamxay) border gate area.

In order to promote cooperation in the coming time, the provinces recommended that it is necessary to continue implementing cooperation contents in the following areas: Strengthening cooperation, assistance, training, and exchange in education and human resource training; cultural and artistic exchanges, sports competitions; encouraging cooperation in science and technology in the fields of agriculture, livestock, and aquaculture; encouraging tourism development; creating favorable conditions for investors, surveying, and investing in the region of 9 provinces of 3 countries.

Signing ceremony of the Minutes of the 23rd Preparatory Conference. Photo: Le Thuy

On the same day, the delegations of 9 provinces of 3 countries Vietnam - Laos - Thailand using Highway 8 and Highway 12 approved and signed the Conference Minutes.

The cooperation between 9 provinces of 3 countries Vietnam - Laos - Thailand using Highway 8 and Highway 12 in recent times has contributed to enhancing the friendly relationship between the 3 countries, promoting the socio-economic development of each province and the whole region, contributing to building a peaceful and prosperous ASEAN community.