PM meets Vietnamese high ranking delegation
(KPL) – Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong received at his office in Vientiane on 8 January a courtesy visit of the Vietnamese high ranking delegation led by Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam who arrived here for the 34th session of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Economic, Cultural, Educational and Scientific and Technological Cooperation.
At the amicable talk, PM Thongsing Thammavong praised and highly valued the visit here of Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his delegation as a big contribution to further strengthening the special friendship relations and all round cooperation between the two parties, states and people of Laos and Vietnam.
On this occasion, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed thanks to PM Thongsing Thammavong and confirmed that Vietnam will increase its trade and investment ties with Laos, aiming to raise two-way trade to US$1 billion in 2012 and US$2 billion in 2015.
He said bilateral trade was valued at US$636 million between January-November, 2011, a year-on-year increase of 48 percent, and it is estimated to hit US$700 million for the whole year.
According to Deputy PM Phuc, many Vietnamese businesses such as Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group, Golf Long Thanh Trade and Investment JSC, the Bank of Development and Investment of Vietnam, and Hoa Phat group have already operated successfully in Laos.
To date, Vietnamese businesses have invested more than US$3.5 billion in Laos, ranking second among foreign investors in the country.
Mr Phuc said the two countries have cooperated well in education, human resources training and transport infrastructure construction. They have also held a number of cultural exchanges and workshops on information technology and science and technology.
Both countries have agreed to enhance the implementation of joint statements and high-level agreements reached by their top leaders to welcome Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2012.
Many Vietnamese localities which do not border Laos, including Quang Ninh, Vinh Phuc, HCM City and Hanoi, have provided practical assistance to Lao provinces.
This represents the close-knit, long lasting and durable relationship between Vietnam and Laos, said Mr Phuc. The Lao government supports and creates the best possible conditions for Vietnamese businesses to operate in the country, said the PM.
He proposed organizing conferences on trade promotion and meetings between Lao leaders and Vietnamese businesses to iron out snags and facilitate their operations in Laos.
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