Vietnam and Laos have agreed that human resources development remains a key success to build on, among others, in the second half of 2009, as one result of the Inter-Governmental Committee meeting in the central border province of Nghe An from August 1-3.

To this end, at the meeting, which was chaired by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung and his Lao counterpart, Somsavat Lengsavad, consensus was reached that Vietnam should continue extending educational assistance to Laos, including scholarships for Lao students.

The two head delegates, who are also heads of the committee’s national section in their respective countries, also agreed to push relevant agencies on both sides to conduct research and work out projects in memory of Vietnam ’s President Ho Chi Minh in Laos as part of the cooperation programme in culture and sports.

Other agreements included Vietnam’s further assistance for Laos in organising the SEA Games 25, and training referees and athletes while working together closely on the ‘Week of Vietnamese Culture in Laos’ to be held later this year.

The two sides also agreed to pursue the tariff reduction roadmap and further streamlining customs procedures so as to boost bilateral trade revenue to 1 billion USD by 2010.

Vietnam and Laos have fulfilled major goals in bilateral cooperation for the first half of this year, especially in human resource development.

As a result, their exchange programmes in education have benefited 75 students in addition to the scholarships provided in furtherance of the 2009 cooperation agreement.

Also, Vietnamese ministries, industries and local administrations provided assistance in this field for their Lao partners.

Bilateral trade reached 196 million USD in the first half of the year.

Vietnam is among the three biggest investors in Laos with 186 projects capitalised at over 2 billion USD, which were licensed for investment through June.

In the first six months of the year alone, the Lao Government granted licences to 17 Vietnamese projects with a combined capital of 87.9 million USD.

The two countries have signed six accords of cooperation in industry, trade, transport, exports and food hygiene and safety.

Vietnam has sent senior economic experts to Laos to help in reviewing its economic renewal process./.