Vietnam’s northern mountainous province of Yen Bai will provide nearly one billion VND to fund a joint programme along with the two Laotian provinces of Vientiane and Sayabouly, after signing an agreement on June 11.

Under the agreement, Yen Bai will buy learning equipment for teachers and pupils at a boarding school in Vientiane as well as build a hospital in Sayabouly.

The province will also cover the expenses for 70 students from the two provinces to study in Yen Bai and send teachers to Laos to learn Laotian and teach Vietnamese to Laotian officials and students.

The province will also facilitate Laotian officials who want to attend training courses in health, food safety and environmental resources. Each year Yen Bai’s Teacher Training and Medical Colleges already welcome dozens of students from Vientiane and Sayabouly.

The three provinces have worked together on joint projects for a number of years, adding to the traditional friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos . Every year, the provinces hold a series of meetings and seminars to discuss their experiences and to support each other on socio-economic development issues.-VNA