At a working session with leaders from the northern Vietnamese province of Thai Nguyen on August 25, Lao Deputy PM Somsavat Lengsavad said he hopes Thai Nguyen will continue to cooperate with Laos in training human resources, which will contribute to reinforcing the relationship between the two nations.

Pham Xuan Duong, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, reaffirmed the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, particularly between Thai Nguyen and provinces in northern Laos.

Over the past years, 20 enterprises from Thai Nguyen have invested around US$100 million in Laos, Duong cited.

He said, the province will continue encouraging its businesses to invest in Laos' mining and forestry industries in the future. He also proposed that both countries develop policies to create the best possible conditions for investment.

Vietnamese Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan  Phuc highlighted Thai Nguyen’s socio-economic achievements, as well as its effort to strengthen ties with localities in Laos. He asked the province to further promote cooperation with their Lao counterparts and said he backs its proposal to build a hostel for Lao students in Vietnam and accelerate the construction of National Highway 3 linking Hanoi and Thai Nguyen.

On the occasion, the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment granted investment licences to Chien Cong Company to explore for tin, lead, and zinc in Xiang Khouang and Hua Phan provinces.