Vietnam, Laos science, technology ministries step up links hinh anh 1Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (R) receives Minister Chu Ngoc Anh on December 8 (Photo: VNA)

Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister Chu Ngoc Anh has thanked the Lao Government for its assistance and provision of favourable conditions for cooperation between the two countries’ ministries of science and technology.

Meeting with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in Vientiane on December 8, Anh said his ministry will continue supporting the Lao counterpart in building legal documents, mechanisms, policies and development programmes that match the global scientific and technological trend.

The Vietnamese side will also enhance cooperation between the countries’ border localities to boost science-technology application, thereby helping with Lao provinces’ socio-economic development, he added.

PM Thongloun Sisoulith highly valued the ministries’ cooperation between 2011 and 2015, asking the Vietnamese ministry and Government to further assist the Lao Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST).

The two sides also need to keep sharing experience in the management of scientific and technological activities, he noted.

During talks the same day, Anh and his Lao counterpart Boviengkham Vongdala voiced their delight at growing collaboration in science and technology, lauding the close coordination to implement relevant cooperation activities mentioned in an agreement on the two Governments’ 2016 cooperation plan.

They agreed that Vietnam’s MoST will continue helping the Lao ministry make and fine-tune legal documents on science and technology, and design joint research projects based on Laos’s proposals and needs to help this nation improve scientific research capacity, technology application, and innovation.

The ministries will also assist the science and technology departments at Vietnamese localities bordering Laos to strengthen ties with Lao provinces through science-technology application projects.

They are set to work closely to carry out activities on the occasion of 40 years since the signing of the Laos-Vietnam Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (1977) and 55 years of the two countries’ diplomatic ties (1962) next year, the officials noted.-VNA
VNA