The delegation also included Khanthong Thammavong, Member of the Standing Board of the Bokeo Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Bokeo Provincial Government Committee, along with other members of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Board and leaders of Bokeo departments and agencies.

 Receiving and working with the delegation on the Lao Cai side were Mr. Duong Quoc Huy, Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Mr. Giang Quoc Hung, Member of the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; other members of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Board; and leaders of several provincial departments and agencies.

An overview of the talks.

Expanding cooperation between the two localities

Speaking at the meeting, Provincial Party Secretary Duong Quoc Huy warmly welcomed the high-level Bokeo delegation to Lao Cai. He stressed that the visit, coming shortly after the two provinces signed their 2026 Cooperation Agreement in Luang Prabang Province on July 31, 2026, was important for translating agreed contents into concrete action and moving Lao Cai-Bokeo relations into a new stage of development.

Delegates attended the talks.

Mr. Duong Quoc Huy affirmed that Vietnam and Laos are neighboring countries bound by a great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation painstakingly nurtured by generations of leaders of the two Parties and States and by the peoples of both countries. This invaluable legacy, he said, provides the foundation for the two nations to continue accompanying and supporting each other in national construction and development.

Duong Quoc Huy, Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee, spoke at the talks.

On that foundation, Lao Cai has always attached importance to and prioritized friendly and cooperative relations with Lao localities. Before 2026, relations with Bokeo were maintained mainly through coordination between the two provinces' Military Commands. The signing of the 2026 Cooperation Agreement expanded cooperation to the provincial level, creating a basis for the two sides to advance ties across a broader range of fields.

Duong Quoc Huy highly valued the goodwill, sincerity, initiative and sense of responsibility shown by Bokeo's leaders in establishing and promoting cooperation between the two localities. He said the initial results had made a practical contribution to nurturing the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

Lao Cai delegates attended the talks.

Focusing on areas of potential and strength

Briefing the delegation on Lao Cai's development orientation, Duong Quoc Huy said that following the administrative-unit reorganization, the province has entered a new stage of development with a larger development space and more diverse potential.

Lao Cai occupies an important position on the Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh Economic Corridor and serves as a trade gateway linking Vietnam and ASEAN with Southwest China. Its diverse transport infrastructure includes the Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway, while the province is attracting investment for Sa Pa International Airport and the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway, which is expected to be completed before 2030.

In addition to its transport and border-gate advantages, Lao Cai has significant potential in minerals, commodity agriculture and tourism. Tourism is identified as a spearhead economic sector, with renowned destinations including Sa Pa, Bac Ha, Mu Cang Chai and Thac Ba Lake.

Bokeo holds an important position in northern Laos on the North-South Economic Corridor of the Greater Mekong Subregion, linking Laos with Thailand, Myanmar and Southwest China. Although the two provinces do not share a border, they have many similarities in natural conditions, socio-economic characteristics and agricultural and tourism potential, while possessing complementary strengths that can support trade, logistics development and market expansion.

Building on these advantages, Duong Quoc Huy proposed that the two sides focus on several priority areas of cooperation.

First, he called for continued visits and exchanges between leaders of the two provinces; greater sharing of experience in Party building, political-system development, state management, administrative reform, digital transformation and socio-economic development; and a stronger coordinating role for the two foreign-affairs agencies in monitoring and accelerating agreed cooperation, while promptly advising on solutions to difficulties and bottlenecks.

Lao Cai delegates attended the talks.

In education and training, Lao Cai will coordinate the provision of VND 5 billion in support for construction of Dan-thin High School in Houayxay District, Bokeo Province. The province will also make arrangements to receive 15 Bokeo students to study Vietnamese in Lao Cai during the 2026-2027 academic year before they move on to specialized studies. Lao Cai will support the students in their studies and daily life and organize visits and exchanges during traditional holidays and festivals of the two countries.

In economics, trade, investment and logistics, the two sides will increase information exchanges on the investment environment, market demand and key products, while helping businesses and cooperatives connect and seek cooperation opportunities in trade, logistics, commodity agriculture, agro-forestry processing and green economic development.

In defence and security, the two sides will continue talks and experience-sharing between their provincial Military Commands and gradually increase exchanges between police forces and relevant agencies, helping prevent and combat transnational crime and maintain security and public order.

In culture, health, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, the two provinces will encourage agencies, units, localities and mass organizations to establish ties and share experience; expand cultural, sports and youth exchanges and destination promotion; and explore connections among medical institutions, travel businesses and cultural agencies.

Duong Quoc Huy asked the two provincial foreign-affairs departments to strengthen their role as focal points and work with relevant agencies to develop detailed plans specifying tasks, lead agencies, timelines and implementation resources. In the immediate term, he said, priority should be given to completing the contents of the 2026 Cooperation Agreement and ensuring concrete, practical results and deliverables.

Bokeo seeks stronger cooperation with Lao Cai

Speaking at the meeting, Major General Penkham Boutchanpheng, Member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Bokeo Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Bokeo Provincial People's Council, thanked Lao Cai's leaders for the thoughtful and warm welcome extended to the high-level Bokeo delegation and highly valued the initial cooperation results between the two localities.

Major General Penkham Boutchanpheng, Member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Bokeo Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Bokeo Provincial People's Council (center), spoke at the talks.

The Bokeo leader briefed participants on the province's socio-economic situation, potential, advantages and development orientation. He stressed Bokeo's important position on the North-South Economic Corridor of the Greater Mekong Subregion as a locality linking Laos with Thailand, Myanmar and China.

Bokeo is prioritizing the development of border trade, logistics, high-tech agriculture, agricultural processing, tourism and the green economy, while strengthening connectivity with localities across the region to capitalize on its geo-economic advantages.

Bokeo's leaders highly valued the signing of the 2026 Cooperation Agreement, describing it as an important milestone that expands cooperation from defence into many other fields. Bokeo hopes to continue receiving Lao Cai's coordination and support in implementing agreed contents, particularly in education and training, infrastructure development, economics, trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

Bokeo delegates attended the talks.

At the talks, leaders and representatives of specialized agencies from both provinces exchanged views on specific areas of cooperation and agreed to strengthen coordination and proactively implement signed programmes in ways suited to actual conditions and capable of delivering practical results.

Leaders of the two provinces exchanged gifts and posed for a commemorative photo.

Direct discussions between senior leaders of the two provinces on cooperation priorities shortly after the signing of the 2026 Cooperation Agreement have created additional momentum for Lao Cai-Bokeo relations to develop in a comprehensive, substantive and sustainable manner. The exchanges also help strengthen solidarity and friendship between the two localities and make a practical contribution to nurturing the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

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