Hanoi(VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a meeting with the Vietnam-LaosCooperation Committee, relevant ministries and sectors on January 13 to discuss theimplementation of the cooperation agreement with Laos last year and plans for2018.
The event wasalso attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs PhamBinh Minh.
According to areport by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the two nations exchangedmore than 300 visits at all levels and saw significant progress in economiccooperation in 2017. They have worked together to promptly remove obstacles andstep up trade and investment promotion activities.
Vietnam now ranksthird among countries and territories investing in Laos with 276 projects worthabout 5 billion USD in total. Accumulative disbursement has been estimated atover 1.6 billion USD so far, accounting for 32.5 percent of the totalVietnamese investment.
Vietnam-Laostrade in the first 11 months of 2017 exceeded 808 million USD, up roughly 10percent from 2016.
Joint projects intransport infrastructure and connectivity have been developed between the twocountries and within the region. The two sides are continuing to seek fundingfor key projects, such as 725-km Hanoi – Vientiane Highway and a railwayconnecting Vung Ang, Tan Ap, Mu Gia (Vietnam) and Thakhec, Vientiane (Laos).
Last year, Vietnamgranted 1,246 scholarships to Lao students, 246 higher than the number pledgedby the two Governments.
PM Phuc said that 2017 was a year of solidarity between the two countries andboth sides successfully organised grand ceremonies to mark 55th foundinganniversary of diplomatic ties and 40 years since the signing of theVietnam-Laos Treaty on Amity and Cooperation.
The two nationsshould promote bilateral cooperation in various fields, he said, askingrelevant sides to effectively coordinate to carefully prepare for the 40thmeeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee for BilateralCooperation to be held later this year.
Vietnam will continue its support for Laos in socio-economic development, henoted, adding that inspections must be carried out to accelerate the progressof some key cooperation projects.-VNA
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