Hue expressed his pleasure at welcoming the delegation and briefed them on the performance of the provincial industry and trade sector, as well as exchanges and cooperation with the Houaphanh Department of Industry and Trade.

Over the past years, the two departments have maintained close cooperation and regularly exchanged information on the development of border trade infrastructure and the import and export of goods by traders and border residents through border gates. They have also facilitated the trading of goods by businesses and people of both sides, promoted local products, encouraged investment cooperation and trade promotion, in accordance with the laws and regulations of each country governing products manufactured using locally sourced materials. 

He called on the Houaphanh side to continue providing support and creating favourable conditions for Son La traders to invest in agricultural production and purchase farm produce in Lao border provinces.

He also proposed facilitating the issuance of Certificates of Origin (C/O) for goods produced or farmed by Son La traders in accordance with the bilateral Border Trade Agreement, while urging the Houaphanh department to report to the provincial authorities for prioritisation of infrastructure investment and the deployment of personnel to perform supervision and state management duties at the Na Cai-Sop Dung and Nam Lanh-Muong Po pairs of auxiliary border gates in accordance with Lao regulations to help facilitate the trading and exchange of goods between traders from the two provinces.

For his part, Thongsuk expressed his hope that the two departments will continue to study and implement trade agreements between the Governments of the two countries, including those on border trade, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding on comprehensive cooperation between Houaphanh and Son La provinces in the industry and trade field.

The two sides also agreed to continue creating favourable conditions for and encouraging Vietnamese businesses, particularly those from Son La, to explore investment opportunities in agriculture, livestock farming, homestay services and other sectors in Houaphanh./.