Six collectives in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien have been awarded the Friendship Order and Medal of Laos for fostering comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, governments and peoples.

During the award ceremony held in Dien Bien on May 11, the provincial People’s Committee and the Department of Education and Training were honoured with the Friendship Order.

Other friendship medal recipients include the Pedagogy, Economic-Technical and Medical Colleges and the Dien Bien Centre for Continuing Education.

Since 2004, the province has offered quality training to 220 graduates from Luang Prabang, a majority of who have since worked for Lao administrative units or become officials.

Prior to 2000, Lao graduates studied at the Dien Bien Economic and Medical Colleges.

Since 2003, Dien Bien has trained 75-90 Lao students annually while Souphanouvong University in Luang Prabang has enrolled five others from Dien Bien.

Over the past 10 years, 560 graduates and officials from three northern Lao provinces have received training in Dien Bien.-VNA