President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man had a working session with a delegation from the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on June 22.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man (R)
presents a painting as a keepsake to President of the Lao Front for National
Construction Central Committee Saysomphone Phomvihane (Photo: VNA)

The Lao delegation, led by President of the LFNC Central Committee Saysomphone Phomvihane, was on a working visit to Can Tho city to learn experience in agricultural development of the city and the Mekong Delta.

Man said Vietnam is currently assisting Laos in training human resources and transferring technological advances in cultivation, livestock breeding and aquaculture.

He affirmed that Vietnam’s agricultural sector, the VFF, and Can Tho city are willing to cooperate and share their experiences with Laos in farming development.

Man hoped that Phomvihane, with his position and prestige, will work with competent agencies to continue paying attention to legal conditions that facilitate the life of Vietnamese expats in Laos.

For his part, Phomvihane praised Vietnam’s achievements in the past time under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and congratulated the country on its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.

He expected that Vietnamese and Lao localities to come up with more practical collaboration projects, adding that he will further study cooperation issues discussed during the current visit when returning to Laos.

The official noted Laos wants to invite experts from Can Tho to access local rice-fruit production and aquaculture. Based on their assessment, the two sides will discuss their upcoming joint projects in Laos using the most suitable methods, he elaborated.

Phomvihane hoped during the process of cooperation, Vietnam will transfer techniques and necessary skills to the Lao side.

While in Can Tho, the Lao delegation visited the Can Tho Stroke International Services Hospital and toured large-scale field and rice production connectivity models at the Trung An high-tech agricultural joint tock company in Co Do district.

The Mekong Delta consists of 13 localities with its population exceeding 20 million. Its rice production makes up 56 percent and 90 percent of Vietnam’s total yield and exports of the product, respectively. In 2018, the delta took the lead nationwide in terms of rice, shrimp, Tra fish, and fruit productivity, with the four products raking in 8.43 billion USD in export revenues.

Can Tho lies in the centre of the region with advantages in industry, trade, and high-tech agriculture.