The Prime Ministers of Việt Nam and Laos Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and Thongloun Sisoulith attended a ceremony to inaugurate a scientific and technological human resources training centre in Vientiane, Laos yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

VIENTIANE — The Prime Ministers of Việt Nam and Laos Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and Thongloun Sisoulith attended a ceremony to inaugurate a scientific and technological human resources training centre in Vientiane, Laos yesterday. 

The centre is a symbol of science and technology co-operation between Việt Nam and Laos, built by the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology following the 35th meeting of the Inter-governmental Committee on Economic, Cultural, Educational, Scientific and Technological Co-operation between Việt Nam and Laos in Việt Nam’s Vĩnh Phúc Province on December 19, 2012. 

The Ministry of Science and Technology of Việt Nam and Laos began construction of the centre in September 2015 and made the final touches in December 2017. 

Built at a cost of more than VNĐ98 billion (US$4.4 million) from the Vietnamese Government’s official development assistance, the centre can train 600-800 scientific managerial officials a year and will employ 70 people. 

In 2012-17, 308 Lao officials received training in Việt Nam, a modest figure compared with Laos’ demands and plans to train many scientific and technological officials.  

Therefore, the centre will help the Lao Ministry of Science and Technology meet development goals and tasks assigned by the Lao Party and Government to make use of science and technology as a driver of national growth. 

Addressing the event, Minister of Science and Technology of Việt Nam Chu Ngọc Anh expressed his hope that the Lao Ministry of Science and Technology would continue working with its Vietnamese counterpart on the centre’s operation. 

Lao Minister of Science and Technology Boviengkham Vongdara expressed gratitude to the Party, State and Government of Viet Nam for their assistance and support to the Lao people. He also thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology for its assistance. 

The centre’s first course will be on creative renovation for 50 managerial officials from the Lao Ministry of Science and Technology, other ministries and sectors and businesses. 

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc is in Laos for the 40th meeting of the Việt Nam-Laos Inter-government Committee, of which he is co-chair.

Government offices boost ties

Also yesterday, Minister, Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tiến Dũng had a working session with his Lao counterpart Phet Phomphiphak, during which he proposed closer ties between the government offices of Việt Nam and Laos. 

The two government offices have maintained close relations, contributing to promoting co-operation between the two countries, he said. 

He urged the two offices to accelerate the implementation of a signed memorandum of understanding on co-operation, focusing on sharing experience and organising workshops. 

Sharing Dũng’s opinions, Lao Minister and Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Office Phet Phomphiphak hoped the two sides would bolster their co-operation in the future.

In Box:

Lao officials honoured for contributions to bilateral ties

VIENTIANE — President Trần Đại Quang chose to present the third-class Independence Order and the Friendship Order to 17 officials of the External Affairs Commission of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee to honour their contributions to the traditional friendship between Việt Nam and Laos. 

The decision was made on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and 40 years of signing of the Việt Nam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation. 

Also on this occasion, the External Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee decided to present the ‘For the cause of the Party’s foreign affairs’ insignia to six officials of the Lao commission. 

Hoàng Bình Quân, head of Việt Nam’s External Affairs Commission, presented the third-class Independence Order, the Friendship Order and Medal and the insignia to the Lao officials at a ceremony in Vientiane yesterday. — VNS