The second session of the Vietnam-Laos Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation was co-chaired by Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan and his Lao counterpart Boviengkham Vongdara, in Hanoi on Oct. 11.

Addressing the event, Minister Quan said the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology always prioritises cooperation programmes with Laos , in recognition of their importance.

Programmes in the 2009-2011 period have helped raise the knowledge of scientific and technical managers from central to local levels, build laboratories and transfer technology in hunger eradication and poverty reduction and information technology, the minister said.

Lao Minister Boviengkham Vongdara thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and Government for prioritising Laos’ scientific and technological development, particularly in enhancing capability of the Laos National Measurement Institute staff, training managers for Laos’ Departments of Science and Technology, the development of Laos’ application of science and technology in the 2010-2015 period, developing domestic rice genes as well as the diagnosis and treatment of congenital birth defects.

The Lao minister proposed Vietnam boost cooperation in four major fields, including the exchange of information on science and technology, intellectual property, measurement standards; training scientific and technological managers; transfer of science and technology and other scientific research fields of mutual concern and cooperation in the transfer of technical breakthroughs between the two countries’ localities.

At the session, the two sides signed the minutes of the second session and three plans on cooperation in information technology, training and energy between Vietnamese and Lao agencies./.