Vietnamese and Lao localities have effectively implemented a number of trade and investment cooperation projects in agriculture, industry, health, education and training.

Chairman of the Lao National Assembly’s Economics, Planning and Finance Committee Khamsing Sayakone stated this at a meeting with Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council Pham Phuong Thao in the city on August 26.

He said that during his delegation’s five-day visit to Vietnam , the two sides shared experiences in legislation, national policy decisions and raising public awareness of the law.

Laos has paid a special attention to Vietnam ’s model for organising people’s councils at all levels, he said, adding that this system is expected to be applied in his country after 2010.

At working sessions with municipal departments and agencies, the two sides reviewed the implementation of cooperative projects between Ho Chi Minh City and five Lao provinces and cities, including Champasak, Vientiane , Savannakhet, Luang Prabang, and Atapeu.

HCM City has so far invested 152 million USD in 13 projects in Laos . Among them, the 1.3 million USD Saplast Plastic Plant project in Vientiane was put into operation in 2004. Also, the Saigon CoopMart chain is speeding up the opening of supermarkets in the country.

Other projects on growing rubber trees, building a bio-fertiliser production factory, setting up a food processing joint venture with Vissan and upgrading a hospital with Medic are underway.

In addition to training programmes for Lao officials, HCM City has also provided a 5 billion VND aid to Luang Prabang province./.