The US$2 million project, including a three-storey school building, a separate single-storey block, a 500-seat meeting hall and other auxiliary works, is scheduled for completion within 15 months.

The school is a gift from the capital city of Hanoi to its neighbouring capital to mark the 450^th anniversary of Vientiane in 2010. It aims to provide political training and professional skills courses for Vientiane’s officials.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Vientiane’s deputy mayor Somvandy Nathavong and deputy chairman of the Hanoi city People’s Council, Nguyen Van Khoi, expressed their mutual pleasure at the steady and positive development of the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in general and the two capitals in particular.