Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – From February 2nd to 6th, Lao and Vietnamese government officials held talks in Vietnam, exchanging experiences in urban management and town planning, aiming to explore comprehensive pathways to promote urban development and sustainable growth.
The Lao delegation was led by Vice Minister of Public Works and Transport, Thacsonkham Thamavong, and included officials from Khammouane and Bolikhamxay provinces, as well as representatives from the finance, agriculture, and environment departments. The Vietnamese delegation was received and welcomed by Vice Minister of Construction Nguyen Tuong Van.
This experience-sharing activity is an important part of the "Urban Environment Improvement Project," implemented in Thak district of Khammouane province and Phasan district of Bolikhamxay province, funded by a grant from the Asian Development Bank. Officials from both sides focused on sharing lessons learned in urban planning and management; the results will be applied to the fourth largest Mekong subregion development project, helping to improve the urban environment of the two Lao provinces.
During the talks, the Lao delegation gained an in-depth understanding of Vietnam's urban management system, focusing on learning about its decentralization mechanism and the collaborative coordination model between the Ministry of Construction and other government agencies. They also learned from Vietnam's urban planning strategies, efficient use of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and loans, and explored how to ensure the sustainability of development projects while considering social factors and strengthening technical capabilities. Furthermore, the Lao delegation will conduct on-site inspections of ongoing and existing urban management projects in Vietnam to further absorb practical experience.
