Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnamesebusinesses still think Laos is an attractive destination and will continue toinvest in the country despite a slowdown in out-bound investment, VietnameseMinister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung told Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in Vientiane on December 16.
Minister Dung, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Committee,expressed his hope at the meeting with the Lao Government leader that Laos willcontinue to support Vietnamese firms in the country.
He informed the PM about the goal of his working visit and outcomes ofthe talks between the two Ministries of Planning and Investment during thevisit, as well as results of the Vietnamese delegation’s trip to Phongsaly andUdomsay provinces.
Dung particularly took note of the smooth coordination between the twocountries in organising activities to mark the 55th anniversary ofthe bilateral diplomatic ties and 40 years of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.
PM Thongloun Sisoulith appreciated the Vietnamesedelegation’s trip to the remote and disadvantaged localities of Laos, which hesaid will help the Vietnamese side to have accurate assessment about Laos’socio-economic situation.
He highlighted the important role played by the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-VietnamCooperation Committees in implementing agreements reached at the 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee held in Hanoi inFebruary 2017.
He urged the committees to make greater efforts, considering that the bilateraleconomic and trade ties have remained stagnant and not matched potential of thetwo countries as well as aspirations of their leaders.
Earlier the same day, Minister Dung and his Lao counterpartSouphan Keomisay held talks to review cooperation between their ministries aswell as the two committees, and set forth cooperation orientations in the timeto come.
They also discussed preparations for the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-LaosIntergovernmental Committee to be held in Vietnam in early 2018. -VNA