The Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee convened a meeting in the Lao province of Xieng Khouang on July 28 to review the cooperation results in the first half and discuss major tasks for the second half of the year.
The session was co-chaired by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, Head of the Vietnamese sub-committee, and his Lao counterpart Somsavad Lengsavad.
The two sides agreed on a draft strategy on economic, cultural, scientific and technological cooperation for the 2011-2020 period, and an agreement on economic, cultural, scientific and technological cooperation for the 2011-2015 period between Vietnam and Laos.
They emphasised the need to step up bilateral cooperation in training and developing human resources, accelerate the planting of border markers, effectively use non-refundable aid, and strive to reach the set target in two-way trade. They also agreed to coordinate closely in licensing businesses from both nations, developing traffic systems, and organising a Lao culture week in Vietnam in early December to celebrate the National Day of Laos.
Statistics show that a total of 4,888 Lao students are pursuing studies in Vietnam, while 463 Vietnamese students are taking training courses in the neighbouring country. The Vietnamese Government has allocated VND33.5 billion to build 11 dormitories for the Lao students.
Since the beginning of this year, the two nations have built 149 border markers and defined locations for the construction of 83 other markers.
Bilateral trade increased by 8 percent to US$212 million during the first six months of this year.
Vietnam is one of the leading foreign investors in Laos, with 219 projects capitalised at US$2.41 billion by the end of May./.