The meeting was co-chaired by Trang Thi Xuan, member of the Son La provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board, Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee, and head of the provincial Border Affairs Steering Committee; and Phutphanh Keovongsay, member of the Party Committee’s Standing Board, Deputy Governor, and Permanent Deputy Chairman of the Border Committee of Houaphanh province.

In recent years, under the leadership of the Parties and Governments of Vietnam and Laos, the Party organisations, administrations, armed forces, and people of Son La and Houaphanh provinces have continued to uphold the tradition of special solidarity and friendship; strengthen comprehensive cooperation in various fields including economy, culture, society, defence, and security; and build and strengthen a strong political system.

The two sides have regularly exchanged delegations at the provincial, sectoral, and local levels. They have also facilitated trade, goods exchange, and business investment by enterprises, organisations, and border residents of both provinces.

Authorities and competent forces of both sides have frequently exchanged information, monitored the situation, and promptly resolved issues arising along the border based on mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. They have actively promoted legal education and mobilised the local populations on both sides to strictly observe the two legal documents on Vietnam-Laos border.

Both parties agreed to continue effectively implementing the legal documents on Vietnam-Laos border and other relevant bilateral agreements and memoranda. They will instruct border management and protection forces to actively and closely coordinate in exchanging information and conducting both bilateral and unilateral patrols to firmly protect the borderline, border markers, boundary posts, and national border infrastructure.

They also agreed to maintain cross-border trade activities, cooperate in managing and developing border gates, and effectively implement the contents of the annual government- and provincial-level border meetings, along with other related agreements.

At the end of the event, the two sides signed the minutes of the meeting.