Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang hosted a reception for visiting Lao Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Suansavanh
Viyaketh in Hanoi on December 14.
The Lao minister, whose visit takes place in conjunction
with the 2023 Lao cultural week in Vietnam, told the host on key outcomes of her
talks with her Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Van Hung. The two ministers
reviewed the implementation of the nations’ cultural, artistic, and tourism
cooperation plan for 2021-2025 and agreed on major directions for joint works next year.
She affirmed that the Lao Party and Government consider tourism a driving force
for and a bright spot of the country’s recovery and development, helping
increase income for the people. Laos has decided to designate 2024 as the year
of Lao tourism.
She expressed her gratitude for Vietnam’s support
for Laos’ preparation of a dossier for the nomination of its Hin Nam No national
park as a transboundary World Heritage Site together with Vietnam’s already
established UNESCO natural World Heritage site Phong Nga Ke Bang National Park
in Quang Binh province.
In response, Quang lauded the fruitful cooperation between
the two ministries, especially in organising cultural activities and
people-to-people exchanges.
He suggested that the sides effectively implement the 2021-2025
plan, study and implement measures to promote tourism cooperation between the
two countries, and closely coordinate in hosting activities of the ASEAN
Cultural and Social Community in Laos’ chairmanship year.
The Deputy PM said he is confident that in 2024 when Laos
takes over the ASEAN chairmanship, the two nations’ overall cooperation,
particularly in culture and tourism, will thrive./.
VNA