Leaders from Xayabouly province in Laos and Vietnam’s Lao Cai province meet in Xayabouly to discuss closer cooperation.              --Photo Xayabouly province

Xayabouly, Lao Cai provinces deepen cooperation
 
Xayabouly province and Vietnam’s Lao Cai province are strengthening their ties, with authorities from both sides pledging to expand collaboration in economic development, trade, investment and tourism.
A meeting of senior officials from the two provinces, held in Xayabouly last Saturday, was led by the Chairman of the Xayabouly Provincial Administration Committee, Mr Duangta Xayvouth, and Standing Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People’s Council, Mr Hoang Giang.
Participants shared information about socio-economic developments in their respective provinces and discussed potential areas for closer cooperation to further strengthen the long-standing friendship between Laos and Vietnam, according to the Pasaxon Daily.
Mr Duangta outlined Xayabouly’s development potential, noting that the northwestern province covers 16,389 square kilometres, with mountainous terrain accounting for about 80 percent of this area. It shares a 647-km border with Thailand and has 13 border checkpoints, including four international checkpoints and nine traditional crossings.
Xayabouly is home to more than 400,000 people of eight ethnic groups, and has 149 registered tourist attractions.
Mr Duangta said Xayabouly’s economic growth is driven by export-oriented agriculture and agro-processing, electricity generation, and transit services linked to cross-border trade.
These sectors have supported average annual economic growth of 4.5 percent, with gross provincial product reaching 24.1 trillion kip and average annual per capita income currently standing at US$2,567.
Agriculture is the province’s main economic pillar. Xayabouly has three cassava starch factories, two rubber processing plants, and four soybean cleaning and sorting factories.
Rice is grown on more than 49,600 hectares, with yields averaging 194,000 tonnes annually. Commercial crops are grown on more than 124,000 hectares, yielding about 1.68 million tonnes of produce, including cassava, maize, Job’s tears, legumes and watermelons.
The cultivation of higher-value crops has expanded, with more than 20,000 hectares planted with rubber and over 500 hectares devoted to coffee.
During the meeting, the two sides called for more communication between local authorities, with the aim of boosting investment and trade and strengthening cooperation in tourism, agriculture and other areas of mutual benefit.
They pledged to build on the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam to support sustainable socio-economic development in both provinces.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update August 5, 2026)