Quan hệ Attapeu (Lào) Kon Tum (Việt Nam) từ năm 1991 đến năm 2017.Quan hệ Attapeu (Lào) Kon Tum (Việt Nam) từ năm 1991 đến năm 2017.Quan hệ Attapeu (Lào) Kon Tum (Việt Nam) từ năm 1991 đến năm 2017.Quan hệ Attapeu (Lào) Kon Tum (Việt Nam) từ năm 1991 đến năm 2017.Quan hệ Attapeu (Lào) Kon Tum (Việt Nam) từ năm 1991 đến năm 2017.Quan hệ Attapeu (Lào) Kon Tum (Việt Nam) từ năm 1991 đến năm 2017.Quan hệ Attapeu (Lào) Kon Tum (Việt Nam) từ năm 1991 đến năm 2017.Quan hệ Attapeu (Lào) Kon Tum (Việt Nam) từ năm 1991 đến năm 2017.Quan hệ Attapeu (Lào) Kon Tum (Việt Nam) từ năm 1991 đến năm 2017.Quan hệ Attapeu (Lào) Kon Tum (Việt Nam) từ năm 1991 đến năm 2017.Quan hệ Attapeu (Lào) Kon Tum (Việt Nam) từ năm 1991 đến năm 2017.MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING VINH UNIVERSITY LE THANH HAI ATTAPEU (LAOS) – KON TUM (VIETNAM) RELATIONS FROM 1991 TO 2017 SUMMARY OF THE DOCTORAL THESIS OF HISTORY NGHE AN – 2022 THE WORK HAS BEE.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING VINH UNIVERSITY LE THANH HAI ATTAPEU (LAOS) – KON TUM (VIETNAM) RELATIONS FROM 1991 TO 2017 SUMMARY OF THE DOCTORAL THESIS OF HISTORY NGHE AN – 2022 THE WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED AT VINH UNIVERSITY Scientific instructor: ASSOC PROF., PHD VAN NGOC THANH PHD NGUYEN VAN TUAN Reviewer 1: Reviewer 2: Reviewer 3: The thesis was defended before the University-level Doctoral Thesis Examination Board at Vinh University At … hours, on date … month … year … The thesis can be found at: - National Library of Vietnam in Hanoi - Information Center – Nguyen Thuc Hao Library, Vinh University PREAMBLE Reason for choosing the topic Laos and Vietnam are two neighboring countries located on the Southeast Asian peninsula For a long time, the people of the two countries have been closely attached to each other, fostering a friendly, close and sharing neighborly relationship Especially, since the birth of Indochinese Communist Party, the relations between Laos and Vietnam has become even closer Under the hard work of bonding by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane, together with generations of leaders, soldiers and people of the two countries, the Laos – Vietnam relations has become a special friendship, showing exemplary solidarity, purity and loyalty It is the special friendship and cooperation between Laos and Vietnam that has become a very important factor, contributing to the victory of revolutionary cause of each country Upholding the friendship tradition of the two countries, between localities along the Laos – Vietnam border, the comprehensive cooperative relationship has been also attached great importance to and developed at all times in all fields In which, leaning against the Annamite Range, Attapeu and Kon Tum are the two neigboring provinces with many similarities in geography, history, culture, … having shown the closeness and attachment to each other throughout the history With a common border of more than 75 km, Attapeu and Kon Tum have many favourable conditions to promote relations and cooperation in all aspects In particular, the system of Road 18B (Laos) and National Highway 40 and National Highway 19 (Vietnam), along with the pair of Phoukeua – Bo Y International Border Gate, is considered as the main gateway to the sea of Attapeu as well as the southern provinces of Lao At the same time, it is the lifeline to communicate with the Southern Laos region of the provincies and ciities in the South Central Coast and the Central Highlands of Vietnam From that position, there has been early a reciprocal relationship between the two localities, mutually supporting each other in socio-economic construction and development Historically, in the common flow of the close relationship between the two Lao and Vietnamese nations, the relations between Attapeu and Kon Tum was also formed very early Under the feudal period, in the friendly relationship between the two nations, the people in the two localities has also become good neighbors and had a close relationship with each other During the period of resistance war against the French colonialists and the American imperialists, the people of the two provinces further promoted the tradition of solidarity, contributing shoulder-toshoulder together with peoples of Laos and Vietnam to defeat the invading imperial forces, gaining independence for their nations After the victory of the resistance war against the United States of America (1975), along with the changes to a new stage in the relations between Laos and Vietnam, the relations between Attapeu and Kon Tum was strengthened and tightened Especially, since 1991, when Kon Tum Province was re-established, as two bordering localities, Attapeu and Kon Tum have had more conditions to promote more comprehensive and deeper cooperation Stemming from their own needs and interests, the two localities have stepped up cooperation in all fields of politics, economy – society, culture, education, defense – security … The strengthening of cooperation between Attapeu and Kon Tum has brought great results, making important contributions to the socio-economic development of each locality, and at the same time contributing to tightening the solidarity and friendship of the people of the two countries in general However, overall, the achieved results have not been still really being commensurate with potential of both sides On the other hand, the research on cooperative relationship between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province has still had some gaps to be supplemented and clarified Therefore, it is necessary to deepen and understand the bases and influencing factors, clarify the current situation of the comprehensive cooperative relationship between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province from 1991 to 2017, on that basis, the achievements, limitations, impact assessment, … being significant in terms of both science and practice should be drawn In science: studying the relations between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province from 1991 to 2017 not only sheds light on important contents in cooperation between the two localities, but also contributes to enriching the picture of special friendship, strategic and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam in the period of renovation In practice, studying the relations between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province from 1991 to 2017 contributes to helping the people of the two localities to be deeply aware of the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two provinces, as well as between Laos and Vietnam At the same time, the research results of the thesis can be used as a reference and consultation for leaders of Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces in planning cooperation strategies between the two sides in the next stages In addition, this is a useful resource for researchers, teachers, and students to exploit and use in the process of researching, teaching and learning about Laos – Vietnam relations in general and relations between the two provinces in particular With the above meanings, we choose the issue “Attapeu (Laos) – Kon Tum (Vietnam) relations from 1991 to 2017” as the topic of doctoral thesis in History Research purpose and tasks 2.1 Purpose To systematically and comprehensively restore the progress of cooperative relationship between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province in various fields from 1991 to 2017, on that basis, on that basis, the achievements, limitations, impact assessment, … being significant in terms of both science and practice can be drawn and the impacts of Attapeu – Kon Tum cooperative relationship can be pointed out 2.2 Mission From the above research purposes, the mission of the thesis is determined as follows: - Analyzing the bases and factors affecting the cooperative relationship between the two provinces in the period from 1991 to 2017 - Systemizing the progress of implementing and developing the cooperative relationship between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province from 1991 to 2017 in all fields in an honest, objective and scientific manner - Giving comments on achievements and limitations and explaining the causes of those achievements and limitations in the cooperative relationship between the two provinces; highlighting the salient points in the relations between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province - Clarifying the impact of Attapeu – Kon Tum relationship on each province and on the relationship between the two countries (Laos, Vietnam) Research subjects and scope of the thesis 3.1 Research subjects The research subject of the thesis is the relationship between Attapeu Province (Laos) and Kon Tum Province (Vietnam) from 1991 to 2017 3.2 Research scope - Time scope: The thesis starts with 1991 – the year of re-establishment of Kon Tum Province (August 12th, 1991, Kon Tum Province separated from Gia Lai – Kon Tum Province) The ending milestone is 2017 – the 40th anniversary of the signing of Vietnam – Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (July 18th, 2017) and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Laos (September 5th, 2017) These are important events, marking a long development of the cooperative relationship between the two countries as well as between Attapeu and Kon Tum However, in order to better clarify the process of movement and development of the relations between the two provinces, to a certain extent, the thesis refers to the events before and after the period of 1991 – 2017 - Spatial scope: The main spatial research topic is Attapeu Province (Laos) and Kon Tum (Vietnam) In addition, in order to have a broader view, the topic also mentions some provinces of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia - Content scope: The thesis focuses on research on cooperation in the following fields: politics – foreign affairs; security – national defense and border affairs; economy; culture; education and training; and other fields (medicine; aid and humanitarian activities; searching and gathering martyrs’ remains) between Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces from 1991 to 2017 Methodology and research methods 4.1 Methodology The thesis is made on the basis of applying and mastering dialectical materialism and historical materialism of Marxism – Leninism; applying Ho Chi Minh’s Thought, foreign policy of the two Parties and the two states of Laos and Vietnam on international regional issues as well as foreign policy of Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province 4.2 Research methods In the research process, we mainly use the historical method and the logical method The historical method is used to fully and objectively reconstruct the development process of the cooperative relationship between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province in the chronological direction from 1991 to 2017 It is the continuous development with inheritance in the movement of cooperative relationship between the two provinces The logical method is used in the thesis with scientific arguments to consider, generalize and explain events in the relationship between the two provinces, thereby drawing conclusions, pointing out highlights, and assessing the impact of cooperative relationship between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province from 1991 to 2017 In addition, we also use the methods of statistics, summarization, analysis and comparison, and field method … to solve the tasks set out by the topic Sources of documents: - Original documents: + Preliminary and summary reports on the cooperation process; resolutions; documents (memorandum of understanding, minutes of talks, minutes of meeting between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province from 1991 to 2017), archived at the Sub-department of Records and Archives of Kon Tum Province, the Department of Foreign Affairs of Kon Tum Province and a number of other departments and agencies of Attapeu Province + Documents of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party; articles and speeches by leaders of the Party, State and Government of Laos and Vietnam; documents of the Party Committee and Government of Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province from 1991 to 2017 - References: Along with the original sources mentioned above, in the process of implementing the thesis, we have exploited other supplementary sources of documents such as: books, newspapers, magazines, specialized research works, and a number of reputable electronic newspapers, print newspapers, websites … related to the topic - Other sources of documents: including movies, maps and field documents through the survey trip of the author to Attapeu (July, 2019) and the survey at the Bo Y – Phoukeua pair of international border gates Thesis contribution - This is a comprehensive and systematic research work on the cooperative relationship between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province in the period from 1991 to 2017 in the following fields: politics – foreign affairs; security – national defense and border affairs; economy; culture; education and training; and some other fields - The thesis has clarified achievements and limitations, and explained the underlying causes leading to such achievements and limitations; pointed out the salient points and impacts of the cooperative relationship between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province from 1991 to 2017 Therefore, this will be a valuable source of references for building an orientation of cooperation or for researching and learning about the relationship between the two provinces in the next stages - The thesis contributes to fill in some gaps in the study of local history of Attapeu and Kon Tum, as well as further clarifying and concretizing the history of the Laos – Vietnam relations in the period of 1991 – 2017 Therefore, the thesis is also an important document to propagate and educate the people of all classes in the two localities, especially educating the young generation about the special solidarity and friendship tradition between the two provinces and the two countries At the same time, the thesis is also a source of reference for research, teaching and learning about the history of Laos and Vietnam in genral and the local history of Attpeu and Kon Tum in particular Structure of the thesis In addition to the Preamble, Conclusion, References and Appendix, the main content of the thesis is presented in chapters: Chapter Overview of the research situation Chapter The bases of formation and the factors affecting the Attapeu – Kon Tum relations (1991 – 2017) Chapter The Attapeu Province – Kon Tum Province relations in various fields (1991 – 2017) Chapter Comments on the Attapeu – Kon Tum relations (1991 – 2017) Chapter OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH SITUATION 1.1 Research works related to the thesis topic 1.1.1 Research works in Vietnam - Regarding the Laos – Vietnam relations: The relationship between localities of the two countries in general, and the Attapeu (Laos) – Kon Tum (Vietnam) relationship from 1991 to 2017 in particular, is a vivid expression of the special and comprehensive relationship betweens Laos and Vietnam, so it should be considered in terms of the general relationship between the two countries Meanwile, the Laos – Vietnam and Vietnam – Laos relations are a very basic research area having attracted the attention of many Vietnamese scholars Some typical works can be mentioned such as: History of modern Laos (2006) by the authors Nguyen Hung Phi and Buasi Chalonsuc, the collection of works “History of special relations between Vietnam – Laos and Laos – Vietnam (1930 – 2007)” (2012) co-written by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communisty Party of Vietnam and the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, Vietnam – Laos: The Cohesion Through Time (The similarities in politics, history, culture from ancient to modern) (2017) by the author Nguyen Phuong Lien, Special relations and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in the period of 1954 – 2017 (2017) by the author Le Dinh Chinh … Besides, thrugh scientific conferences and exchange forums, the issues related to from Laos – Vietnam relations in general to cooperative relationship in various fields between localities of the two sides in particular have been mentioned and clarified Specifically: Conference on “40 years of Vietnam – Laos relations, retrospect and prospects” co-organized by the National Center for Social Sciences and Humanities of Vietnam and the People’s Committee of Nghe An Province (2002); International Conference on Special solidarity, combat alliance and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos co-organized by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences and the Lao National Academy of Social Sciences (2007); Conference on The 40th anniversary celebration of the signing of the Vietnam – Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation organized by the Tay Bac University (2017) The conferences have deeply analysed the friendly neighborly relationship, combat alliance and special solidarity of the two Parties, States and the peoples of the two countries in the struggle for national independence as well as in the construction and defense of the Fatherland The issue of cooperative relations between provinces sharing the Laos – Vietnam border in particular has also been interested and selected for master’s theses and doctoral theses by many researchers Typically, the thesis on Vietnam – Laos relations from 1975 to 2005 by the author Nguyen Thi Phuong Nam (2007); the thesis on Laos – Vietnam relations (1986 – 2016) by the author Nguyen Viet Xuan (2021) Besides, a number of theses have delved into the study of cooperative relationship between provinces sharing the Laos – Vietnam border, such as: the thesis on The relations between the provinces of Houaphan, Xiangkhouang, Bolikhamxai and Khammouan of Laos and the provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh of Vietnam from 1976 to 2007 by the author Bui Van Hao (2011); the thesis on The Party Committee of Ha Tinh Province leads the development of friendship and cooperation with the provinces of Bolykhamxai and Khammouan (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) from 1991 to 2010 by the author Nguyen Trong Tu (2013); the theses on The Houaphan (Laos) – Son La (Vietnam) relations from 1975 to 2012 by the author Dang Thi Hong Lien (2018); the thesis on The cooperative relationship between Houaphan Province (Laos) and Thanh Hoa Province (Vietnam) from 1986 to 2017 by the author Luu Thi Kim (2021); The cooperative relationship between Kham Muon Province (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) and Quang Binh Province (Socialist Republic of Vietnam) from 1989 to 2017) by the author Lai Thi Huong (2021); the thesis on The relations between Savannakhet Province (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) and Quang Tri Province (Socialist Republic of Vietnam) from 1989 to 2017 by the author Trinh Thi Dung (2022) … It can be seen that, mentioning the relationship between Laos and Vietnam, there is a fairly large number of works having contributed to clarifying many aspects of the close and strong relationship between the two countries However, there has been no work mentioning deeply the relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum - Regarding the relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum: Following the historical flow of special relations: Laos – Vietnam and Vietnam – Laos, the Attapeu – Kon Tum and Kon Tum – Attapeu relations have also developed comprehensively, being a testament to the cooperative relationship , and at the same time fostering the friendship of Laos – Vietnam and Vietnam – Laos Directly referring to the relationship between Attapeu Province (Laos) and Kon Tum Province (Vietnam), some typical works can be mentioned such as: the book series History of the Party Committee of Kon Tum Province (1930 – 2020), consisting of volumes, compiled by the Party Committee of Kon Tum Province; History of the Party Committee of the Border Guard of Kon Tum Province (1963 – 2018) compiled by the Party Committee – Command of the Border Guard of Kon Tum Province (2018); Kon Tum – 100 years of History and Development compiled by the Kon Tum Provincial Committee (2013); the topic Research and general assessment of natural and socio-economic conditions in Vietnam – Laos border area (Kon Tum and Attapeu provinces) for planning of residential areas and sustainable development, ID: KHCN-TN3/11-15, conducted by a research team led by the author Dang Xuan Phong (2015); the Master’s thesis The cooperative relationship of Kon Tum Province (Vietnam) with Attapeu Province (Laos) from 1991 to 2014 by the author Vo Tan Lac (2015) In addition, there are also articles printed in Proceeds of the National Conference for the 40th anniversary celebration of the signing of the Vietnam – Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, July 18th, 1977 – July 18th, 2017 (2017), directly mentioning the relationship between Attapeu (Laos) and Kon Tum (Vietnam), such as: Border security cooperative relationship of Kon Tum Province (Vietnam) with Attapeu Province (Laos) (1991-2015) by the group of authors Nguyen Van Phuong – Nguyen Duc Toan; Some aspects of the cooperative relationship between Kon Tum Province and the southern provinces of Laos by the group of authors Truong Thi Minh Nguyet – Nguyen Huu Ha; Kon Tum College of Education with the training of Laotian students by the author Nguyen Huu Ha The above works and articles have initially outlined the cooperative relationship between Attapeu Province and Kon Tum Province in a number of fields and given comments on achievements, difficulties and prospects of the cooperative relationship between the two localities 1.1.2 Research works in Laos Besides Vietnamese scholars, the issue of Laos – Vietnam relations also attracts the study of leaders of the Party and State, the units and the Lao scholars Typically, the thesis on The factors governing the special Laos – Vietnam relations from 1986 to 2011 by the author Nhotkhammani Souphanouvong (2016); the thesis on The process of formation and development of special relations with Vietnam in the foreign policy of Laos from 1986 to the present by the author Bounsavang Xayasane (2018); the thesis on Laos – Vietnam cooperative relationship in the field of education in the period of 1986 – 2016 by the author Soulatphone Bounmapheth (2020) … In addition, it is worth mentioning the articles in the joint book series History of special relations between Vietnam – Laos and Laos – Vietnam (1930 – 2007), in conferences and special journals on the relationship between the two countries … by the Lao leaders and scientists 1.1.3 Research works in other countries Besides the reaserch works of researchers in Laos and in Vietnam, the Laos – Vietnam relations has also been noticed by Western researchers, some of which can be mentioned as: the book A History of Laos by Martin Stuart-Fox (1998); the book Laos: Culture and Society by the author Grant Evans (1999); the book Revolution, reform and regionalism in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam) by the author Ronald Bruce St John (2006); the work Laos and Ethnic Minority Cultures: Promoting Heritage published by UNESCO in 2003; the work “Data Collection Survey on Economic Development of the Southern Region in Lao People’s Democratic Republic” published by Japan International Cooperation Agency in 2012; the article Laos: the Vietnamese Connection Martin Stuart-Fox published in Southeast Asian Affairs (January, 1980 issue) In general, most of the works of Western scholars that the author has access to have more or less mentioned the Laos – Vietnam relations in general, and at the same time have mentioned certain aspects of social life of Attapeu as well as the relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum 12 2.5 Friendship and cooperation between the Party, the State of Laos and Vietnam (1986 - 2017) The Party, the State of Laos, and Vietnam have always recognized the importance of consolidating and strengthening friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation These guidelines have become the foundation for the two countries' localities, including the provinces of Attapeu and Kon Tum, to strengthen their comprehensive cooperation in the new period Laos and Vietnam, in particular, have signed a series of cooperation documents, affecting the relations between the two sides and creating a favorable basis for the two countries' localities in general, and Attapeu and Kon Tum in particular, to deploy and promote cooperation in various fields 2.6 World and regional context The world and regional situation have changed significantly since the late 1980s, affecting Lao-Vietnam relations in general and the relations between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province in particular The typical ones are: - Peace, stability, cooperation, and development are gradually becoming the dominant trends in international relations - The impact of the modern scientific and technological revolution has increased interrelationships and interdependencies in all regions, countries, and peoples of the world, forming the globalization trend - Southeast Asia also witnessed a strong development of regional cooperation mechanisms, with Laos and Vietnam participating - China's expansion and strengthening of its influence in Southeast Asia has had an impact on the cooperative relationship between Laos and Vietnam in general, and between the two countries' localities in particular As can be seen, the Attapeu-Kon Tum relations (1991-2017) is based on solid foundations and is influenced by a variety of factors The bases and factors are inextricably linked, with benefits as well as difficulties and challenges The main factors for the cooperative relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum are the favorable factors in general As a result, the two localities have actively promoted their advantages, converting them into opportunities, thereby contributing to tightening their relations and promoting socioeconomic development in each locality 13 Chapter THE ATTAPEU PROVINCE - KON TUM PROVINCE RELATIONS IN VARIOUS FIELDS (1991 - 2017) 3.1 Politics - foreign affairs, security - national defense and border work 3.1.1 Politics - foreign affairs After the re-establishment of Kon Tum province (1991), the special friendly and neighborly relations between Attapeu and Kon Tum was strengthened Both sides have established regular delegations of provincial leaders, departments, branches, and unions to work, exchange experiences, discuss, and sign cooperation agreements in a variety of fields The foreign-political relations, which is deepening on many levels, has contributed to deepening the special solidarity between the two provinces while also laying the groundwork and creating favorable conditions for close and deep cooperation between the two localities in socioeconomic, security-national defense, culture-education, and other fields 3.1.2 Security - national defense Based on the importance of security and national defense for the stability of each locality, Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces have strengthened the coordination activities to ensure security and national defense in the new period Conferences and semantic activities, in particular, that are held on a regular basis with many levels, have clearly shaped the mechanism of cooperation between Attapeu and Kon Tum to ensure security and national defense, social order, and safety The crime situation in the Attapeu-Kon Tum border area has been effectively controlled, prevented, and repulsed as a result of close cooperation between the two provinces' functional forces, contributing to maintaining security and creating stability for the two sides to promote cooperation activities in other fields 3.1.3 Border work Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces have regularly exchanged and coordinated with each other to jointly manage the border landmark system in the spirit of constructing a special peaceful and friendly border between the two Parties and the two States The two localities have worked closely together to manage, repair, thicken, and embellish the Lao - Vietnam national landmark system in the area between the two provinces, resulting in a new and more manageable appearance for the Lao - Vietnam national border, while also contributing to the development of a solid legal basis for cooperation and coordination between the two sides in the protection and management of territorial borders 14 The functional forces of the two provinces have also taken the initiative to carry out coordinative activities, such as inspecting and controlling people and vehicles crossing the border between the two provinces, so that the situation of people illegally crossing the border between the two provinces has become increasingly minimal Cooperative activities to address the issue of free migrants and marriage without dignity in the border area between the two provinces are also carried out satisfactorily, and the number of free migrants has decreased significantly over time 3.2 Economy Along with the reformations in Laos and Vietnam, both Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces identified trade promotion as one of the important local programs in the process of integrating into the market economy, contributing to removing poverty Since Attapeu and Kon Tum have collaborated closely to promote trade exchange between the two sides (opening the Phoukeua-Bo Y international border gates, constructing connecting roads, streamlining customs clearance procedures, etc.), the trade exchange between the two has changed significantly in the period 1991 - 2017 In terms of investment, these two localities have received significant investment projects from the two countries' investment capital, particularly from the Government of Vietnam Furthermore, the two provinces have proactively implemented a variety of activities to improve investment promotion and attraction between the two sides Along with the available potential and the facilitation of investment mechanisms and environment from the government, the business community of Kon Tum and Attapeu provinces have also approached each other and supported specialized investment activities However, in general, Kon Tum and Attapeu's investment cooperation remains limited and unbalanced Agriculture and forestry are the main strengths and areas that play a leading role in economic activities of Kon Tum province as well as Attapeu province In the period 1991 - 2017, in addition to implementing the cooperative contents under the traditional aid method, the two parties have switched to the form of expert cooperation, strengthening the exchange and transfer of technology and cultivation techniques, improving the capacity of agricultural, aquatic and irrigation production management In addition, the two sides have also signed contracts to implement a number of programs and projects in the form of joint ventures Forestry cooperation is primarily carried out in two directions: the exploitation, processing, and transportation of forest products for export; the management, protection, and 15 development of forest resources; and the prevention of forest fires along the common border Transport cooperation is also regarded as an important cooperative content between Attapeu and Kon Tum The demand for interconnection traffic between the two provinces is growing in tandem with the development of commercial exchanges In 2001, Attapeu and Kon Tum collaborated to build the 18B road to meet the demand for transporting goods and passengers across the border Furthermore, the two sides coordinated the licensing of intermodal transport units, the inspection and control of vehicles circulating and participating in Vietnam-Laos intermodal transport through the two provinces, and the maintenance and repair of arterial roads Regarding tourism, based on the conditions and potential of each side, the tourism industry agencies of the two localities have met, exchanged and agreed on many solutions to promote tourism development linkages The two sides have coordinated the construction of key tours and routes The number of travelers passing between the two sides is constantly increasing, emphasizing the type of selfdriving car road tourism (caravan) 3.3 Culture - sports, education - training and other fields Identifying cultural exchanges as a natural “bridge” to connect Attapeu and Kon Tum more closely together and promote cooperation in other fields, departments, branches and unions of the two provinces have regularly conducted cultural - sporting exchange activities and artistic performances, contributing to strengthening mutual understanding as well as introducing and promoting the image of the land, people and local culture to one another Education and training cooperation between Attapeu and Kon Tum in the period 1991 - 2017 has also achieved important results The cooperation between the two sides is particularly focused on human resource training activities and support for the construction of educational and training facilities and resources Medical cooperation between Attapeu and Kon Tum (1991-2017) was extensive and focused on the following main contents: support for medical examination and treatment, professional training, disease prevention for people; cooperation and exchange of experiences on cross-border infectious disease prevention As a result, these contents have made a significant contribution to people's health care work, effectively preventing disease and promoting solidarity, attachment, and mutual support for development 16 Humanitarian and aid activities were also maintained and carried out in Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces The timely assistance in difficult times, as well as the regular aid in financial and material resources to develop infrastructure and care for people's lives, has reflected the special friendship, while also contributing to the improvement and strengthening of the bond between the two provinces in the new period One activity in the field of cooperation with profound human significance in the Attapeu-Kon Tum relations, the search and collection of martyr remains, has also been effectively implemented Both localities have formed a provincial specialized committee, held meetings, and agreed on guidelines, contents, and plans to coordinate the survey, search, removal, and transport of volunteer martyrs and Vietnamese experts in Attapeu province back to Vietnam It can be said that in the period 1991 - 2017, the cooperation between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province has developed comprehensively in both breadth and depth in most fields The results achieved in comprehensive Attapeu - Kon Tum cooperation have helped to tighten the unique solidarity and friendship between the two localities, creating conditions for socio-economic development of the two provinces, and at the same time contributing to strengthening the special friendship between Laos and Vietnam in general 17 Chapter COMMENTS ON THE ATTAPEU - KON TUM RELATIONS (1991 - 2017) 4.1 Achievements and limitations 4.1.1 Achievements In the period 1991 - 2017, despite many difficulties and obstacles, the relations between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province has been constantly strengthened and achieved many achievements in various fields Looking back at the process of cooperation between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province in the period 1991 - 2017, some typical achievements can be pointed out as follows: - The political - foreign relations between the two provinces is increasingly attached, trusted, developed and deepened - The security - national defense relations and border work have recorded many outstanding cooperation results, contributing significantly to maintaining political stability, ensuring security and order, especially in the border area between the two provinces - The economic cooperation between the two sides has extended into many industries, while there has been a clear change from one-sided economic relations and primary aid cooperation to equal and mutually beneficial cooperation - The cultural, education - training, health care, aid, humanitarian cooperations have become regular activities and increasingly real, and one-sided cooperation (from Kon Tum) steadily decreases The achievements in the cooperation between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province from 1991 to 2017 stem from a number of basic causes as follows: Firstly, there are numerous favorable conditions for Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces to promote and support one another in their cooperative efforts Secondly, it comes from the tradition of solidarity and friendship between the two provinces throughout history Thirdly, the initiative to connect and develop the cooperation contents and programs of the Provincial Party Committee, the Government Committee - the People's Committee of the two provinces; together with the close coordination and effective implementation of departments, branches, agencies, associations and unions on both sides Fourthly, the reform and open policies in Laos and Vietnam (since 1986) and the achievements of the two countries in the innovation career have also had a positive impact and contributed to promoting cooperation activities between Attapeu and Kon Tum 18 Fifthly, it is the effective and flexible coordination of the two countries’ governments when they regularly grasp the needs, strengthen the implementation of association activities, actively dismantle the bottlenecks, jointly negotiate and sign a series of treaties, protocols, agreements, etc thereby contributing to creating a favorable environment for cooperation activities in a variety of fields between the localities of the two countries in general, between Attapeu and Kon Tum in particular 4.1.2 Limitations In addition to the achievements, the cooperative relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum in the period 1991 - 2017 still has limitations, causing a certain influence on the cooperation results between the two localities In the field of security - national defense and border work, although the functional forces of the two sides have developed a mechanism to coordinate and strengthen the measures to ensure security and order, crime prevention, management of border crossings, etc., Smuggling, the sale of prohibited items, illegal border crossings, and other issues are still present and cannot be fully resolved on the common border between the two provinces In the field of economy, service trade and import-export activities between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province are still not commensurate with the potential of the two sides In instance, the trade turnover between the two sides is still not steady, the trade balance is not balanced; the border markets of the two sides is still limited in number as well as their operation is not effective Cooperation in the industrial sector is poor Despite excellent chances and prospects for cooperation, businesses' direct investment activities are still small on both sides Additionally, although there is great potential for collaboration in the area of agriculture, it is still primarily on a local scale Border crossing procedures for vehicles and goods are time-consuming Tourism cooperation is also not commensurate with the potential In the field of education - training, the mobilization of resources for education and training cooperation between the two localities is limited, and the number of students trained at undergraduate and postgraduate levels is relatively little In the field of health, without a long-term strategy for health cooperation between the two localities, cooperation between the two sides still appears to be distinct tasks, primarily to solve Attapeu's pressing requirements The two sides have always regularly maintained and cared for humanitarian and social work, but it is typically biased (mostly Kon Tum's support for Attapeu) 19 The limitations in cooperation between Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces during this period stem from a variety of factors, which can be considered in the following areas: Firstly, the border terrain between Attapeu and Kon Tum is exceedingly dangerous, yet the border guards of the two localities are still relatively limited in number, making coordination for absolute control on the two sides difficult Secondly, there are still many issues in the two provinces' socioeconomic conditions Both Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces are impoverished, having a tiny population, a low educational level, and limited human resources for cooperative programs and projects Furthermore, the link between the surrounding provinces and Attapeu and Kon Tum is weak, and the subregional competitiveness is low Moreover, there are several shortcomings in each individual field, reducing the effectiveness of the two parties' economic cooperation (The structure of imported and exported goods is poorly diverse and depends mostly on several major categories; infrastructure for cross-border trade interchange is weak; there are still many obstacles in the investment licensing procedures; there are no particular favorable policies for border-gate economic zones; and tourism promotion and promotion between the two provinces are not regular and continuous ) Thirdly, human resources for cooperation activities on humanitarian work are limited 4.2 Impact of the Attapeu - Kon Tum relations For Attapeu province: For nearly 30 years (1991-2017), the cooperative relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum has had a substantial and far-reaching impact on the socioeconomic growth of Attapeu province The promotion and tightening of cooperation relations with Kon Tum has aided Attapeu in acquiring management level experience as well as experience in production organization, resource exploitation and use, as well as obtaining model references and building the master plan to serve socioeconomic development As a result, the socioeconomic picture of Attapeu province has clearly changed over time For Kon Tum province: The Attapeu - Kon Tum cooperative realtionship has brought clear benefits to Kon Tum province Kon Tum now has more favorable conditions to encourage economic development as its links with Attapeu strengthen (expanding export markets, ensuring the supply of raw materials, linking for tourism development ), thereby helping Kon Tum bridge the gap with other localities of Vietnam, while providing security - national defense, social order and safety in the province 20 For Lao-Vietnam relations: The relations between Attapeu and Kon Tum is both a vivid reflection of Lao-Vietnam relations and has an impact on the two nations' relations In particular, the great and close political relations between Attapeu and Kon Tum has contributed to deepening the unique friendly relations between Laos and Vietnam, while contributing considerably to promoting more diverse and substantive relations between the two countries Furthermore, the tight cooperation of the two provinces' functional forces has assisted to ensuring security and order along the border lines of the two provinces in particular, and the two countries in general Simultaneously, large-scale cooperation operations in trade, investment, and transportation between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province have helped to strengthening the connection and encouraging cooperation between the South Laos region and Vietnam's Central Highlands and South Central Coast 4.3 Highlights in the relations between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province (1991 - 2017) Firstly, the relationship between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province is comprehensive and growing deep The relations between Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces from 1991 to 2017 reflect the extensive and substantial nature of LaoVietnam relations at the local level The two provinces have implemented various levels of cooperation in a variety of areas Moreover, the nature of reciprocal cooperation, mutual benefit on the basis of giving priority and incentives to each other through strategic agreements signed by the two sides has become increasingly clear Secondly, the relations between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province is developed on the basis of two neighboring localities located in a special geostrategic position Attapeu and Kon Tum's bilateral connection is connected with the tripartite relations because they are located at the crossroads of three countries: Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia (between the three provinces of the three different countries) At the same time, Attapeu and Kon Tum are also in the core of the Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia Development Triangle Area, the intersection of the East-West Economic Corridor, connecting the provinces of South Laos, Northeastern Cambodia, Northeastern Thailand with the Central Highlands, South Central Coast and Southeast provinces of Vietnam As a result, these localities serve as an important link in promoting cooperation between Vietnam's core economic regions and the Mekong subregion Thirdly, security - national defense and border work are major areas of cooperation in Attapeu - Kon Tum comprehensive relations from 1991 to 2017 The accomplishments of cooperation in security - national defense and border work have 21 produced an important highlight in the overall relations between Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces The importance of the Attapeu-Kon Tum relations is not based solely on conventional economic interests, but more on the stability of security national defense, social order, and safety - to serve as a foundation for the development of other fields Therefore, cooperation in security - national defense and border work is considered a prominent area of cooperation and a promoter of other cooperations in the overall Attapeu - Kon Tum relations Fourthly, the relations between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province is distinct from that of other provinces that share the border between Laos and Vietnam In terms of the manner, route, and content of cooperation, the AttapeuKon Tum relations, as well as the relations of other provinces on the Laos-Vietnam common border, frequently share points The Attapeu-Kon Tum relations, however, differs from the other relations on the Lao-Vietnam common border due to distinct characteristics and circumstances (There is a triangle relation axis, with or without seaports, placed at geographical peaks, away from the two countries' development centers, and so on.) Fifthly, the Attapeu - Kon Tum relations show a clear predominance over the relations between Attapeu and Ratanakiri (Cambodia) or Kon Tum (Vietnam) and Ratanakiri (Cambodia) Located in the crossroads between the three countries that are Laos - Vietnam - Cambodia, the three localities of Attapeu - Kon Tum Ratanakiri have long been affiliated with one another, forging friendly relations: Attapeu - Kon Tum, Attapeu - Ratanakiri, Kon Tum - Ratanakiri However, due to certain conditions, in the period 1991 - 2017, the relations between the two remaining localities in the area of Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia (Attapeu - Ratanakiri, Kon Tum - Ratanakiri) has not achieved a breakthrough and has many positive aspects, similar to the one between Attapeu and Kon Tum 22 CONCLUSION Through the study of the cooperative relationship between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province from 1991 to 2017, the following conclusions can be drawn: The cooperative relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum is a traditional one with a firm basis that is influenced by a variety of objective and subjective elements Particularly, the rich and diversified natural resources, as well as certain similarities, can assist the two localities in deploying cooperation to build production chains or areas, tourism areas, and so on, while also complementing each other in the process of socioeconomic development In addition, the close geographical and highly "geo-strategic" location is required for the formation of exchange and commerce contacts on the border of the two provinces Meanwhile, in the context of far-reaching integration, cultural similarities are considered as crucial "spans" to bring the two localities together, and are one of the important criteria for the two sides to develop mutual understanding, support the process of comprehensive cooperation On the other hand, With the strong trend of international and regional cooperation occurring between 1991 and 2017, it has contributed to the creation of a natural "environment" for local cooperation activities such as the one between Attapeu and Kon Tum to bloom and develop Along with this, the continuous development of Vietnam-Laos relations, as evidenced by the signing of a series of strategic agreements, has resulted in the formation of a system of cooperation mechanisms and important legal frameworks, ensuring a solid relationship of long-term cooperation between the two countries' localities, including the relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum Furthermore, the traditional and strong relationship between the two provinces throughout history is an important fulcrum for the two provinces to continue to understand the necessity to promote and expand comprehensive cooperation in the period 1991 - 2017 Cooperative relationship between Attapeu province and Kon Tum province has been extensive in all fields, yielding numerous significant results In terms of politics and foreign affairs, the two provinces have increased their meeting and exchanging activities, as well as creating the cooperation mechanism and applying it extensively to the agencies and subordinate units In terms of security - national defense and border work, the two sides have also developed mechanisms for cooperation and the implementation of many specific coordination contents on all aspects of work such as crime prevention, border crossing management, solving the problem of free migration, marriage without dignity, training staff, improving capacity to implement border regulations, and landmark demarcation In terms of economy, the two provinces have expanded their support for one another in order to 23 capitalize on available potentials and strengths, attract trade and investment, and improve agriculture, forestry, transportation, and tourism In terms of culture and society, close and practical cooperation between the two parties in the fields of culture, education - training, health care, humanitarian aid, and so on has contributed to strengthening exchange, cohesion, human resource training support for socioeconomic development needs, and helping each other in disease prevention and health care In addition to the obtained results, the cooperation between Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces from 1991 to 2017 revealed some limitations and was not commensurate with both sides' potentials and objectives In general, cooperation is not consistent across all fields and stages Cooperation outcomes in some fields are ineffective (in the field of economy, service trade and import-export activities between the two provinces are still insufficient to match the two sides' potential; despite the increase in scale, trade turnover remains average, the growth rate is unstable, the trade balance between the two localities remains imbalanced, and export is frequently skewed towards Attapeu; cooperation in the industrial sector is limited; there are numerous chances and prospects for cooperation, but direct investment by firms on both sides remains minimal; in the field of culture and society, funding sources for student training are still limited, and the number of students trained at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels is small ) From 1991 to 2017, the cooperative relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum had a significant impact on each locality as well as the Lao-Vietnam friendship and special cooperation relations The two sides' close and comprehensive cooperation has provided Attapeu and Kon Tum with more favorable conditions for promoting their potential, advantages, and removing shortcomings, as well as promoting their socioeconomic growth On the other hand, the relations between Attapeu and Kon Tum is both a vivid expression of the Lao-Vietnamese relations and has an impact on those relations, leading to the concretization and deepening of Laos-Vietnam special cooperation and friendship relations The cooperative relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces in the period 1991 - 2017 shows some highlights such as: The cooperative relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum is broad and deepening; The cooperative relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum is built on the foundation of two localities in a unique geo-strategic location; Security - national defense and border work are the outstanding areas of cooperation in the comprehensive relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum from 1991 to 2017; The cooperative relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum differs from that of other provinces sharing the Laos-Vietnam border; The Attapeu - Kon Tum relations show a clear predominance 24 over the relations between Attapeu and Ratanakiri (Cambodia) or Kon Tum (Vietnam) and Ratanakiri (Cambodia)… These highlights have created unique nuances for the Attapeu - Kon Tum relations while also contributing to the diversity and richness of Laos-Vietnam relations From the practice of cooperation between Attapeu province and Kon Tum provinces in the period 1991 - 2017, concerns have been expressed and handled The Lao and Vietnam governments, in particular, must make a satisfactory investment and implement additional special processes and policies for Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces must also take more initiative, seize all opportunities to deepen their relations, and develop cooperative content in a targeted and practical manner Furthermore, the two provinces must improve the cooperation mechanism, increase the thickness and frequency of meetings, collaborate between levels of government and between the two sides' authorities in order to regularly assess the situation, find ways to remove difficulties and obstacles in the cooperation stages, and develop plans to promote and expand bilateral cooperation Besides, The two localities must focus on realism and effectiveness in the cooperation process, particularly in economic cooperation, while also maximizing internal resources and constantly diversifying the types of cooperation LIST OF THE AUTHOR’S SCIENTIFIC WORKS RELATED TO THE THESIS Le Thanh Hai (2021), Factors affecting cooperative relationship between Kon Tum province (Vietnam) and Attapeu province (Laos) from 1991 to 2017, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, No / 2021, p.63-72 Le Thanh Hai (2022), Cooperation between localities in the Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia Development Triangle Area: The case between Kon Tum Province (Vietnam) and Attapeu Province (Laos) in the period 2004 - 2017, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, No / 2022, p.76, 85 Le Thanh Hai - Nguyen Van Tuan (2022), Economic cooperation between Kon Tum province (Vietnam) and Attapeu province (Laos) from 1991 to 2017, Journal of Science of Vinh University, Volume 51 - No 2/2022, p.5-15 Le Thanh Hai - Nguyen Van Tuan (2022), Training cooperation between Kon Tum Province (Vietnam) and Attapeu Province (Laos) in the period 1991 2017, National Conference: Vietnam - Laos Special Friendship, crystallization and development values, Science and Technics Publishing House, p.157-163 Van Ngoc Thanh - Le Thanh Hai (2022), Cooperation on border work between Kon Tum province (Vietnam) and Attapeu province (Laos) in the period 1991 - 2017, National Conference: Vietnam - Laos special friendship, crystallization and development values, Science and Technics Publishing House, p.103-111 ... the Attapeu – Kon Tum relations (1991 – 2017) Chapter The Attapeu Province – Kon Tum Province relations in various fields (1991 – 2017) Chapter Comments on the Attapeu – Kon Tum relations (1991. .. socioeconomic picture of Attapeu province has clearly changed over time For Kon Tum province: The Attapeu - Kon Tum cooperative realtionship has brought clear benefits to Kon Tum province Kon Tum now has... between Attapeu and Kon Tum from 1991 to 2017; The cooperative relationship between Attapeu and Kon Tum differs from that of other provinces sharing the Laos-Vietnam border; The Attapeu - Kon Tum