Head of the delegation, the Director of the NA’s Committee for External Relations, Nguyen Van Son, met with his Lao counterpart, Saysomephone Phomvihan on May 11.

Their discussions were focused on the use of capital assistance, cooperation in trade and investment, the current state of play of Vietnamese-funded projects and Laos’ policy on Vietnamese workers.

According to statistics, since 2003, 22 Vietnamese-funded projects have been handed over to Laos as part of bilateral cooperation agreements between the two governments. An additional 14 projects are expected to be handed over by late 2010.

Vietnam provided VND560 billion in non-refundable aid to Laos in the 2001-2005 period and VND1.2 trillion in the 2006-2010 period.

Laos values Vietnam’s support in completing its investment projects in agriculture, education and health very highly.

The NA Committees for External Relations of the two countries emphasized the need to facilitate mutually beneficial activities in the coming period.

They also asked for administrative procedures to be revamped and an improved investment environment for investors from both countries.

Later the same day, the Vietnamese delegation was received by Laos Vice State President Bounnhang Volachit and National Assembly Chairman Thongsinh Thammavong.

The two Lao leaders pledged to develop bilateral relations in a number of fields.

They expressed hopes that both sides would work harder to come up with solutions to solve pending problems in the implementation of the previously signed joint initiatives for the benefit of the investors concerned.