Vietnam, Laos signed cooperation deal in agriculture, forestry for 2017-2018 at a meeting in Hanoi on Sept. 5 (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The agricultureministers of Vietnam and Laos signed a cooperation agreement on agriculture,forestry, fisheries, and rural development in 2017-2018 at a meeting in Hanoion September 5.
Vietnam’s Minister of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment Nguyen Xuan Cuong and Laos’ Minister for Agriculture and ForestryLiane Thykeo co-chaired the annual event on bilateral agro-forestry-fisheriesties.
Under the agreement, the two countries willfocus on cooperating in science-technology and human resources training. Thetwo sides will also increase trade promotion of Vietnamese and Laoagro-forestry products.
They agreed to promote investment, productionand processing cooperation programmes in agriculture and forestry whileremoving difficulties for Vietnamese firms to expand investment in manufacturingactivities in Laos.
Minister Cuong particularly underlined a jointprogramme on cattle breeding development, which he said is important to bothVietnam and Laos, and expected to be a breakthrough in agriculturaldevelopment.
At the meeting, the two ministers also reviewedthe implementation of the agreement signed between Vietnamese and Lao governmentsin agriculture and rural development in 2016-2017.
In the period, the two countries activelycoordinated to carry out projects using non-refundable aid of the Vietnamesegovernment for the Lao counterpart.
Specifically, an agricultural technical servicecentre in the north-eastern province of Xiangkhouang, built with totalinvestment of 35.6 billion VND (1.5 million USD), was put into operation inDecember 2016.
The construction of a similar centre in theLaos’ eastern province of Houaphanh was launched in February 2017.
The two sides also held regular visits by high-leveldelegations, experts and technicians to share experience in agriculture,forestry, water resources, agricultural encouragement, and food safety.
The Vietnamese ministry pledged to support Laosto develop rural areas and diversify goods production, as the Lao side said thecountry is concentrating on developing production of agro-forestry-fisheryproducts and building new rural areas.-VNA
VNA
