On November 22, 2024, at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, a consultation conference on the Lao Bao-Densavan (Laos) Cross-border Economic-Trade Zone Project took place. Mr. Ha Sy Dong, Acting Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the 626 Working Group of Quang Tri Province and Mr. Ho Dai Nam, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, Deputy Head of the 626 Working Group of Quang Tri Province chaired the conference. Attending the conference were representatives of leaders of the Central Ministries, authorities of Quang Tri Province.
Mr. Ha Sy Dong, Acting Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the 626 Working Group of Quang Tri province, delivered the opening speech at the Conference. (Photo: Nhat Anh)
In his opening speech at the Conference, Mr. Ha Sy Dong said that the Lao Bao Special Economic - Trade Zone (Vietnam) as well as the Densavan Border Trade Zone (Laos) were formed based on the advantages of the region, the special friendship between the two countries, the policy of the two Politburoes as well as the determination of the two Governments of Vietnam and Laos in selecting and allowing the pilot application of specific policies. In the current context, building a common policy mechanism space, with outstanding incentives for the Lao Bao - Densavan area, is not only of strategic significance in terms of national defense and security but also a new driving force for bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries of Vietnam and Laos.
The pilot study of the construction of the Lao Bao - Densavan (Laos) cross-border economic and trade zone is a policy determined by the Politburo on socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the North Central and Central Coast regions until 2030, with a vision to 2045: "Promoting economic cooperation through border gates in the region associated with the East-West economic corridor. Pilot study of the model of a cross-border economic zone on the East-West economic corridor"; followed by the policy of the two Governments expressed in the high-level agreement signed on January 12, 2023 in Vientiane between the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Laos.
Overview of the Conference. Photo: Nhat Anh
At the Conference, Mr. Ho Dai Nam presented a report on the implementation of the directive documents of the Government and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the basic contents of the project, the feasibility of the pilot project to build the Lao Bao - Densavan Cross-Border Economic Zone at the present time and proposed some contents to solicit opinions from the delegates attending the Conference.
Continuing the program, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Truong, Deputy Director of the Institute for Development Strategy - Ministry of Planning and Investment, gave a brief report on the Lao Bao - Densavan Cross-Border Economic Zone regarding strategic requirements through key documents, the new cooperation context, the advantages and difficulties of some characteristics of the Economic Zone, development directions and policies, and roadmap for cooperation in building the Economic Zone.
Based on the comments received from the representatives of the Central Ministries and agencies at the Conference, the Project was assessed to have been invested and built systematically. After the Conference, the People's Committee of Quang Tri province will continue to receive and synthesize the recommendations of the Ministries, Central authorities, and the People's Committee of Quang Tri province to continue to complete the Project and related documents and implement the next steps towards the goal of soon putting the first pilot cross-border economic zone of Vietnam and Laos into operation under the direction of the Politburo and the Government.
Concluding the Conference, Mr. Ha Sy Dong, Acting Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, affirmed that the pilot project to build the Lao Bao - Densavan Cross-Border Economic Zone is the right policy of the senior leaders of Vietnam and Laos, expecting that the new cooperation model between the two countries will create a new cross-border development space worthy of the special friendship and special political trust between the two Parties and the People of Vietnam and Laos. On behalf of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Ha Sy Dong expressed that in the coming time, the province hopes to continue to receive support, facilitation and assistance from ministries and central authorities so that Quang Tri province can complete and ensure the requirements and progress of the formation of the Lao Bao - Densavan Cross-Border Economic Zone according to the direction of the Politburo and the Prime Minister.
