Lao PM Thongloun Sisoulith (R) receives Prof. Chau Van Minh at Lao PM’s Office, on December 5. (Credit: NDO)

On December 5, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith hosted a reception for the VAST delegation in the capital city of Vientiane.

The Lao PM highly praised the visit by the VAST in the context of the two sides’ Party, State and people are organising significant activities in the Lao-Vietnam and Vietnam-Lao Friendship Solidarity Year 2017. He also expressed his sincere thanks to the VAST for its support to the Ministry of Science and Technology of Laos and the Lao National Academy of Science (LNAS).

PM Thongloun Sisoulith emphasised that in the current situation, the development of the LANS plays an important role in promoting local socio-economic development. The Lao leader proposed that the VAST should enhance the exchange of experience with the LNAS in effectively use of budget for science and technology research and development projects, especially the actualisation and transfer of research results and support the training of human resources in science and technology with high qualifications.

Reporting to the Lao PM on cooperation between the two academies, Prof. Minh stated that cooperation between the two sides has recorded important achievements, contributing to the socio-economic development of the two countries. In the near future, the two will continue strengthening cooperation and mutual assistance to fulfill their assigned tasks, contributing to strengthening and fostering the Vietnam-Laos special relationship for the mutual development of the two countries.

* Earlier the same day, the VAST delegation joined a working session with their Lao counterpart led by LNAS President - Prof., Dr. Boviengkham Vongdara, who is also Lao Minister of Science and Technology.

The two sides highly appreciated the cooperation results between the VAST and the Lao side, especially in the implementation of the project on "Strengthening capacity of scientific research and technology deployment for the LNAS" in the 2016-2018 period, invested in scientific equipment and human resource training for Laos. The project has a total investment of VND69 billion, of which VND66 billion sourced from Vietnamese ODA.

The two sides agreed to continue exchanging delegations at all levels and exchange experiences on scientific and technological researches, as well as promoting transfer of scientific and technological research results and coordinating effectively in implementing the signed projects. The Vietnamese side also pledged to continue providing training in the field for the Lao Ministry of Science and Technology and the LNAS as well.

* Yesterday afternoon, Prof. Chau Van Minh and Prof. Boviengkham Vongdara attended the inauguration ceremony for two laboratories under the above-mentioned project. To date, the project has invested in a range of equipment categories for the life sciences and the earth science labs and offices in Laos. In addition, Vietnam has helped to train ten staff under the LNAS in the areas of ecology, biochemistry, geology and geography.

* On Tuesday evening, the Lao Ministry of Science and Technology held a ceremony to present orders and medals of Laos to Prof. Chau Van Minh and his colleagues at the VAST in recognition of their contribution to the nation’s cause of science and development.