Visitors to Laos won’t have any excuse for getting lost after a detailed map was created after a four-year partnership between the country and Việt Nam.— Photo tainguyenmoitruong.vn

HÀ NỘI — Visitors to Laos won’t have any excuse for getting lost after a detailed map was created after a four-year partnership between the country and Việt Nam.

The full database of the terrain information along with ratio map of 1/50,000 covers 170,000 sq.km of the northern and central region.

The project aims to help Laos in effectively exploiting, using and managing its own natural resources and environment.

It was released at a meeting in Hà Nội yesterday of the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Laos’ Ministry of Home Affairs.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister Nguyễn Thị Phương Hoa, said the project was signed by the two countries following an agreement of economic, cultural, education and science and technology co-operation in 2012.

The project cost around VNĐ184 billion (US$7.9 million), funded by the Vietnamese Government, and is believed to strengthen the special relationship and friendship between the two countries.

Phan Đức Hiếu, head of the Survey, Mapping and Geographic Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said the project was completed on schedule.

Việt Nam already successfully handed over to Laos facilities, software as well as instructions to operate the database, he said.

The database would serve the management of ministries, sectors and localities of Laos, he added.

Laos’ Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Thongchanh Manixay, said the success of the project was a testament to the friendship between the two countries and the solidarity and co-operation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Laos’ Ministry of Home Affairs, in particular.

The project, belonged to the Vietnamese list of non-refundable aid, played an important role in supporting Laos to manage its natural resources and environment as well as contribute to its socio-economic development, he said.

Việt Nam also helped Laos train staff to smoothly run the database after it was transferred to Laos, he added.

Also at the meeting, the Lao Ministry of Home Affairs awarded the Issara Third-Class Order to Hoa for contributing to the success of the project. —VNS