The central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam and the Laotian province of Sekong have agreed to step up projects to upgrade their transport infrastructures and boost socio-cultural cooperation in 2010.

At their annual meeting in Nam Ky City in Quang Nam province, on June 7, they also agreed that the Vietnamese province should continue to provide scholarships and training for 30 students from Sekong province to study in Quang Nam each year.

The Sekong students who graduate from the Quang Nam Medical School will also undertake a three-month placement at hospitals and medical centres in the Vietnamese province from this year on.

Sekong will also provide Laotian language training for Quang Nam ’s provincial staff in 2010.

In 2009, Quang Nam province provided 20 tonnes of rice and 100 million VND to support Laotian flood victims and donated 150 million VND to build a primary school for Vietnamese children living in Sekong province./.