Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on July 6 visited Dien Nam-Dien Ngoc Industrial Park and the ancient town of Hoi An in Quang Nam province to learn about Vietnam’s economic and tourism recovery efforts following its initial success in combating COVID-19.

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith visits Dien Nam-Dien Ngoc Industrial Park to learn about its successful development model 

Visiting Dien Nam-Dien Ngoc Industrial Park, Sisoulith noted that together with Chu Lai Open Economic Zone established in 2003, the industrial park is a success story regarding economic development in Vietnam.

By streamlining administrative procedures to create a conducive investment environment, Dien Nam – Dien Ngoc Industrial Park has attracted big investors from Europe and the Americas since the 1990s. Currently, the industrial park contributes one fifth of the province’s industrial value and 40% of its export turnover.

Appreciating Quang Nam province for remarkable development over the years, PM Sisoulith expressed his wish that Vietnamese businesses should increase investment in Laos after both countries succeed in controlling the COVID-19 epidemic.

The Lao Government and local authorities are ready to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to invest and do business efficiently in the country, he assured.

Leaders of Quang Nam province and local businesses shared Vietnam’s experience in combating the COVID-19 epidemic, saying they have strictly implemented the government’s policy of “fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy” and “Vietnam is ready to sacrifice short-term economic benefits to protect people’s health.”

They said that thanks to the government’s relief packages, businesses that were badly affected by the epidemic have gradually resumed operations, weathering the storm.

Visiting Hoi An, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, the Laos PM learnt that all tourist sites of the ancient town have reopened and the number of visitors has increased gradually.

PM Sisoulith stressed his visit to Vietnam delivered a strong message that the two countries have been able to control the COVID-19 epidemic. This is also a message to the world that the two countries will move towards reopening the door normally after the epidemic, he said.

Earlier, during bilateral talks on July 5, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith agreed that both Vietnam and Laos will promote the exchange of goods and services, as well as people-to-people exchanges. At the same time, they said both countries will consider resuming travel, especially the reopening of air routes between the two countries at the earliest possible time.