Vietnam and Laos convened the fourth meeting of their Scientific and Technological Cooperation Committee in Cua Lo town, the central province of Nghe An, on June 25.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed on priority cooperation orientations for 2017-2019, with the focus on helping the Lao Science and Technology Development Fund in its operation, assisting Laos in completing legal infrastructure and enhancing technical capacity in radiation safety. 

Vietnam will also support Laos in increasing information and statistical capacity of Lao scientific and technological officials. 

The two sides will boost investment promotion activities and technology transfer between the two countries, and cooperate in the intellectual property field.

They also signed memoranda of understanding on cooperation between the two countries’ National Funds for Science and Technology Development and between Vietnam’s State Agency for Technology Innovation and Laos’ Technology and Innovation Department.

Addressing the event, Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh said that, after the third meeting in 2014, the two countries’ ministries of science and technology actively coordinated in implementing a project on building a centre training Lao scientific and technological managing officials.

The centre will be put into operation in the fourth quarter of this year and become a symbol for cooperation between the two ministries, he affirmed.

Lao Minister of Science and Technology Boviengkham Vongdara spoke highly of the outcomes of cooperation projects between the two sides which have brought about practical benefits for the Lao people, especially scientists.

Experience Vietnam has shared through the implementation of projects is valuable for Laos in stepping up its scientific and technological development, he added.