Vietnam-Laos Trade Fair opens to mark bilateral diplomatic ties hinh anh 1A view at the 2017 Vietnam-Laos Trade Fair which began in Vientiane, Laos on June 29. (Photo: To Quoc)

Vientiane (VNA)
– The 2017 Vietnam-Laos Trade Fair began at the Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre in Vientiane, Laos on June 29 to mark 55 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Ths year also marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defence Tran Don said the trade fair is a significant socio-economic and political activity in Vietnam’s trade promotion programme.

The event aims to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the people of Vietnam and Laos and help Vietnamese enterprises seek partnerships and expand trade with their peers from Laos, Don noted.

The fair features 320 booths set up by exhibitors from Vietnam and Laos. Some 120 of them are run by 90 Vietnamese firms, showcasing high-quality goods in the fields of textiles and garments, footwear, agroforestry products, seafood, handicrafts, processed food, electricity-electronics, mechanics, chemicals, construction and building materials, agriculture, fertilisers, pesticides, livestock feed, plant seeds and more.

Photos are on display to showcase the long-standing relations between the people of the two nations. Some show Vietnam’s military working to develop the country’s economy.

A website for trade between Vietnam and Laos was also launched during the fair, aiming to provide information on the two countries’ regulations and policies on economics, trade and industry as well as trade promotion activities.

Additionally, there will be a workshop to provide information on the Vietnam – Laos Free Trade Agreement and border trade agreement and a meeting between businesses from Hanoi and Vientiane.

This event is organised by the Lao Ministries of Industry and Commerce and National Defence and Vietnamese Ministries of Industry and Commerce and National Defence.-VNA
VNA