While meeting with HCM City’s Mayor Le Hoang Quan the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad thanked the municipal authorities for the practical assistance they have given to Laos over the years.

Currently, 235 Lao students are studying in different universities in Ho Chi Minh City with scholarships provided by the Vietnamese Government.

Mayor Quan asked the Saigon Trading Corporation and the Saigon Agricultural Corporation to carry out specific joint projects with their Lao partners in the production and processing of foodstuffs, distribution networks and in animal husbandry.

He also requested companies to focus on discussing with their Lao counterparts the possibility of investing in both Vietnam and Laos in addition to sharing their information and experiences.

Quan also believes that HCM City and Vientiane should carry out top level agreements reached by the two governments to develop bilateral comprehensive cooperation.

He shared with his Lao guests the city authorities’ experiences and policies to help farmers, agricultural businesses and other industries to overcome their current difficulties, build up modern production and processing lines and establish distribution networks to stabilise food prices.

During their stay in HCM City, the Lao Deputy PM and representatives of 16 Lao businesses will visit several farms and food processing plants, as well as breeding farms and a hi-tech agricultural zone.