The session was co-chaired byPermanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, Head of the Vietnamesesub-committee, and his Lao counterpart Somsavad Lengsavad.
The two sides agreed on a draft strategy on economic, cultural,scientific and technological cooperation for the 2011-2020 period, andan agreement on economic, cultural, scientific and technologicalcooperation for the 2011-2015 period between Vietnam and Laos .
They emphasised the necessity to step up bilateral cooperation intraining and developing human resources, accelerate the planting ofborder markers to accomplish the work by 2014, effectively usenon-refundable aid, and strive to reach the set target in two-way trade.
The two sides also agreed to coordinate closely inlicensing businesses from both nations, developing traffic systems, andorganising a Lao culture week in Vietnam in early December to celebratethe National Day of Laos.
Statistics show that atotal of 4,888 Lao students are pursuing studies in Vietnam , while463 Vietnamese students are following training courses in theneighbouring country. The Vietnamese Government has allocated 33.5billion VND to build 11 dormitories for the Lao students.
Since the beginning of this year, the two nations have built 149border markers and defined locations for the construction of 83 othermarkers.
Bilateral trade surged 8 percent year on year to 212 million USD during the first six months of this year.
Vietnam remained one of the leading foreign investors in Laos ,with 219 projects capitalised at 2.41 billion USD by the end of May./.