Vietnam always attaches a great deal of importance to its special relationship with Laos and the country will continue to strengthen bilateral comprehensive cooperation, especially in the fields of public affairs, local authority management and administrative reform.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated this while receiving the Lao Minister for Home Affairs Khampan Philavong, in Hanoi on June 19.

At the reception, Phuc applauded Philavong for visiting, saying that it is a practical way of marking the 2012 Year of Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity, the 50 th anniversary of Vietnamese- Lao diplomatic ties (September 5, 1962) and 35 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty (July 18, 1977).

To help Laos create an effective and efficient administration, Vietnam is ready to provide professional assistance to the Laotian Ministry for Home Affairs by sending specialists to help draw up policies and laws in this field, he said.

Vietnam will also run training courses for Lao officials and help the country to put its administrative reforms in place, he added.

Minister Philavong thanked the Vietnamese Ministry for Home Affairs for supporting Laos ’ Ministry for Home Affairs, formerly the General Department of Administration and Civil Management.

He added that he hopes Vietnam will continue to support and work with Laos to help it to create an effective and efficient administration.-VNA