An agreement to this effect was signed between the Vietnamese Institute for Social Sciences and the Lao National Institute for Social Sciences in Hanoi on December 4.

Under the agreement, the two sides will review each other's research achievements, jointly host conferences and seminars for Vietnamese and Lao scientists as well as their international colleagues, and publish Lao versions of Vietnam's socio-scientific research works.

The two institutes also agreed to create favourable conditions for their researchers to carry out studies in each others country and seek assistance from international organisations in personnel training.

The Vietnamese Institute will assist its Lao partner in national research projects and provide both long and short-term training for Lao cadres in Vietnam.