• Strengthening Vietnam-Laos comprehensive cooperation

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed between the Ministries of Home Affairs of the two countries in Hanoi on June 18.

Under the MoU, both ministries will increase the exchange of information and experience in fields of their charge, as well as visits by senior level officials and specialists.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs will provide professional assistance to its Lao counterpart by sending specialists to help draw up policies and laws in this field.

Vietnam will also offer one-month training courses for 20 Lao officials each year.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Laos Minister for Home Affairs Khampan Philavong praised Vietnam for supporting the Laos General Department of Administration and Civil Servant Management (now the Ministry for Home Affairs).

He said he hopes that Vietnam will continue to support and work with Laos’ newly established ministry to create an effective and efficient administration.

Vice President in Laos

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan led a Vietnamese high-level delegation to Laos on June 18 for a three-day official visit.

Doan was received by top Lao leaders, including Prime Minister Thoongsinh Thammavong, Vice President Boungnang Volachit and National Assembly Chairwoman Pani Zahthotou in separate meetings.

They all agreed that the special Vietnam-Laos relations have been growing in all aspects, including politics, national defence security, economics-trade-investment and education and training.

Specifically, two-way trade turnover has constantly increased significantly annually, and Vietnam has become the leading investor in Laos with over US$3.57 billion.

The two sides also wanted to expand the ties by implementing agreements reached by top leaders and various agencies, creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to operate in Laos and increase the quality and efficiency of Vietnamese-granted projects in Laos.

They hoped to bring bilateral trade turnover to $2 billion by 2015, along with further cooperation in education, health care, tourism and telecommunications.