Representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and Laos, along with leaders from Son La and Houaphanh provinces, cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Long Sap-Pa Hang international border gate.

On the morning of November 19th, the People's Committee of Son La province, in coordination with the government of Houaphanh province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, held a ceremony to announce the opening of the Long Sap (Moc Chau district, Son La province) - Pa Hang (Sop Bao district, Houaphanh province) international border gate.

The delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attending the inauguration ceremony was led by Comrade Nguyen Minh Vu, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with representatives from various units of the Ministry: the National Border Committee, and the Ministry's Office.

On the Lao side, the opening ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos, Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to Vietnam, Khamphao Ernthavanh.

Son La province borders the two provinces of Houaphanh and Luang Prabang in Laos with a 274.065km border. The province currently has 4 border gates with Houaphanh province (Long Sap, Chieng Khuong, Nam Lanh, Na Cai), ensuring economic connectivity across the border region between the two countries.

Prior to 2024, due to the lack of international border crossings, Son La province had not been able to fully utilize its significant potential and advantages, especially the road tourism route from Son La-Laos to Thailand and other ASEAN countries.

The Long Sap-Pa Hang border gate is centrally located, connecting the northern provinces of Vietnam with the northern provinces of Laos. It is approximately 200km from Hanoi, Vietnam, and 180-400km from the centers of the northern Lao provinces. It is particularly advantageous for connecting Moc Chau National Tourist Area in Son La province, Vietnam – a world-class natural destination – with tourist areas such as Luang Prabang, the former capital of Laos, the Sam Neua and Xieng Khuang resistance bases, and other locations in the northern Lao provinces.

Recognizing this need and advantage, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently coordinated closely with Son La province and relevant ministries and agencies to submit a proposal to the Government to upgrade the Long Sap border gate from a main border gate to an international border gate. On December 22, 2020, the Government issued Resolution No. 182/NQ-CP on upgrading the Long Sap main border gate to an international border gate.

Furthermore, through the diplomatic efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Son La province with relevant agencies and localities of the neighboring country, on February 15, 2024, the Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic decided to upgrade the Pa-hang border gate in Houaphanh province to an international border gate.

Comrade Nguyen Minh Vu, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a speech at the ceremony announcing the opening of the Long Sap-Pa Hang international border gate.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Comrade Nguyen Minh Vu, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, congratulated the important event of Son La and Houaphanh provinces, assessing it as a vivid manifestation of the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive strategic cooperation, reflecting the consensus and mutual trust between the leaders and people of Vietnam and Laos.

The Deputy Minister expressed confidence that, along with the Government's approval of the Son La provincial planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the announcement of the opening of the Long Sap international border gate will open up many new opportunities for the province, creating momentum for Son La to become a major growth pole of the Northwest region.

The Deputy Minister requested Son La province and Houaphanh to pay attention to investing in the construction of infrastructure at the Long Sap-Pa Hang border gate pair in order to maximize the advantages of this border gate pair in economic cooperation, trade, investment, and tourism between the two countries.

Comrade Vu Ngoc Ly, Chief of the Office of the National Border Committee, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the Government's Resolution on upgrading the Long Sap international border gate.

With the opening of the Long Sap-Pa Hang international border gate, the first and only international border gate of Son La province to date, the province has new opportunities and impetus for development.

Upgrading these two border gates will significantly contribute to facilitating exchanges and cooperative development between Son La and Houaphanh provinces, thereby improving living standards and strengthening solidarity among the people in the border areas.

The Long Sap-Pa-Hang international border gate pair will also contribute to promoting the development of the border gate system along the entire border between the two countries, while opening up new opportunities for cooperation in economics, trade, investment, and tourism between the northwestern provinces of Vietnam and the northeastern provinces of Laos.

At the same time, the official opening of these border gates will contribute to attracting investors from both countries and internationally to the region, creating a foundation for completing the planning of the border gate system between Vietnam and Laos.

Source: dangcongsan.org.vn