38th session of Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee convened
(VOVworld)- The 38
th session of the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Inter-Governmental Committee was convened in Vientiane on Sunday. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Committee and the Laos Deputy Prime Minister were among the attendees at the meeting.
The two sides highlighted the achievements of bilateral cooperation over the past last five years, especially delegation exchanges, national defense and security cooperation, and the rehabilitation of the border marker system. Vietnam and Laos have effectively dealt with the free migration of people living in border area, and the repatriation of Vietnamese soldiers and experts missing in Laos. They agreed that Vietnam’s investment projects in Laos have proved effective contributing to Laos’ development. This year, two-way trade between Vietnam and Laos reached 1.3 billion USD.
At the meeting, the two sides agreed to further bilateral cooperation in various fields and promote mutual support at regional and international forums. They agreed to facilitate their investors to do business in respective countries, and effectively implement the Vietnam-Lao Trade Agreement and the Vietnam-Lao Border Trade Agreement. Vietnam promised to support Laos in holding the ASEAN Presidency in 2016. Vietnam will grant Laos 1,000 scholarships in 2016 and Laos will give Vietnamese officials and students 60 scholarships. They signed a bilateral cooperation for next year and the 2016-2020 period.