Da Nang and Laos' Sekong strengthen cross-border cooperation
DNO - On 28 October in Sekong (Laos), the Border Affairs Steering Committees of Da Nang city and Sekong province held a meeting to assess their collaboration on border management and protection, as well as to outline their strategic directions for late 2025 and 2026.
Standing Deputy Secretary of the Da Nang city's Party Committee Nguyen Dinh Vinh and Sekong provincial Party Secretary Bounlai Buththi co-chaired the meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Vinh said that, after merging with Quang Nam, Da Nang now spans nearly 12,000km2 and shares 157km of border with Sekong. He praised both parties for effective border coordination and urged continued cooperation under the Vietnam - Laos border agreements to maintain a secure and friendly frontier that supports development.
On the basis of equality, solidarity, and mutual respect, the two parties held frank discussions and agreed on concrete steps for future cooperation.
Accordingly, Da Nang and Sekong will strictly implement the Vietnam - Laos Border Management Agreement, strengthen economic and social development in border areas, and enhance defence and security coordination.
Both localities also pledged closer collaboration to attract investment and combat cross-border crimes, including drug trafficking, smuggling, and trade fraud.
Da Nang and Sekong agreed to focus on upgrading border infrastructure, particularly at the Nam Giang (Da Nang) - Dak Ta-Ook (Sekong) international border gate.
Da Nang will expand National Highway 14D from the border gate to the Ho Chi Minh Road (Ben Giang section), while Sekong will propose upgrading Highway 16B from Dak Ta-Ook to its provincial centre to facilitate trade and transport.
Both parties also planned a joint field survey at the Tay Giang - Kaleum (Sekong) auxiliary border gate area later this year, seeking approval from both governments to upgrade it to a main border gate before 2030. This project aims to boost cooperation, development, and security in the border area.