Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his counterpart, Laos Somsavad Lengsavath, inaugurated a "one-stop-shop" custom model at the Lao Bao-Densavan international border gate between Vietnam and Laos on February 6.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc checks the process of the "one-stop-shop" custom model at the Lao Bao-Densavan international border gate between Vietnam and Laos. — Photo chinhphu.vn

Speaking at the ceremony, Phuc appreciated the efforts and close co-operation between the Vietnam-Lao special working team, which was managed by the two countries' Foreign Affairs Ministry, the central province of Quang Tri and its Lao neighbouring province of Savannakhet.

He said he expects the model shop to halve the time of customs clearance procedures, promote connections and trading between the two countries in accordance with the planned targets set by the two countries' leaders.

Phuc added that the new model will be a remarkable step in local authorities and other countries expanding business exchanges at international border gates across the East-West economic corridor, as well as other key corridors in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).

This will also help complete the commitments made under the GMS Cross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement (GMS-CBTA), Phuc said.

The Deputy PM also asked the GMS members, particularly Vietnam and Laos, to promote linking, upgrade facilities, especially reduce barriers posed by procedures, to create advantages for a trade environment, promotion, investment, tourism, and people-to-people's exchange.

The two countries need to formulate regulations and simplify the administrative procedures in order to use the same customs declaration soon, especially for preventing the illegal sale and transportation of drugs to Vietnam, Phuc added.

The Deputy PM also proposed that development partners, especially the Asian Development Bank and Japan, continue to assist with the launch of the model.

He agreed to organise an international seminar for sharing experiences of running the new model shop operation.

The inauguration of the model shop reflects the efforts made by the two nations to simplify and harmonise procedures and to facilitate Laos connecting the nations in the Mekong River area.

The economic corridor has been created, based on a 1,450-kilometer road connecting the four nations in the GMS, which is meaningful for Laos and Vietnam's socio-economic development and poverty reduction.