Talent exchange is vital to achieving green development goals for cities, said Athsaphangthong Siphandone, governor of Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on May 29.

Siphandone praised the long-standing friendship between Vientiane and Shanghai ahead of the official opening of the 2025 Shanghai International Friendship Cities Cooperation Forum. He noted that as key economic centers, the two cities share broad prospects for cooperation across multiple sectors.

"Development is our common goal," Siphandone said.

The two cities signed the Letter of Intent for Friendly Cooperation and Exchanges on the same day.

Siphandone underscored the importance of green and low-carbon development for Vientiane, noting that the city's 2023–2030 development plan prioritizes the expansion of green spaces, the enhancement of public transportation, and effective pollution control measures. A key focus of his visit to Shanghai is to draw on Shanghai's successful experience in these areas.

Siphandone stressed the key role of talent in achieving sustainable development.

"More than 800 Lao students are studying in Shanghai, and 70 percent of them will return to work in Vientiane," he said, adding that these young people will play an active role in urban governance and deepen educational cooperation between the two cities.

Source: Official WeChat account of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government