President of the Việt Nam Academy of Science and Technology Châu Văn Minh (left) and Lao Minister of Technology and Communications Boviengkham Vongdara exchange the Memorandum of Cooperation on Innovation. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Tú

VIENTIANE — President of the Việt Nam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) Châu Văn Minh and Lao Minister of Technology and Communications Boviengkham Vongdara on Monday co-chaired the third bilateral meeting between the two agencies to discuss ways to promote their cooperation in the coming time.

At the meeting, the two sides updated each other on the implementation of cooperation contents regrading draft proposals on the project on building a data and communication centre on natural disasters (earthquake) for Laos and another on building a national centre for data storage and computing cloud in Laos that the two Governments mentioned in the minutes of the 46th Session of the Việt Nam – Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation this year.

The Institute of Geophysics under VAST, the unit in charge of the national centre for earthquake and tsunami warning, and the Research Institute for Smart Technology (ARIST) under the Lao Ministry of Technology and Communications (MTC) have coordinated to build a joint laboratory for earthquake data and communication at MTC. In addition to supporting basic equipment, VAST has provided training on basic data analysis for 15 ARIST officers.

At the meeting, VAST President Châu Văn Minh and Minister Boviengkham Vongdara signed the minutes of the meeting and witnessed the signing of the cooperation agreement between the Institute of Information Technology under VAST and ARIST.

VAST and MTC also agreed to continue cooperation in human resources development, enhance professional capacity in the field of technology and innovation; and share experience in digital technology development.

On the same day, the Academy of Science and Technology under VAST conferred the title of “Honorary Professor” on Minister Boviengkham Vongdara, who is also President of the Laos – Việt Nam Friendship Association, for his great contributions to promoting scientific and technological cooperation activities between VAST and the Lao ministry. — VNS