Vietnam ready to help Laos implement socio-economic plan

Hanoi, October 7 (VNA) – Vietnam is willing to support Laos in achieving its five-year socio-economic plan by sharing experience, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh assured his Lao counterpart Bunpon Buttanavong in a meeting in Hanoi on October 6. Ninh pushed for increased negotiations and the signing of a new trade deal, making it easier to achieve a trade value of 2 billion USD by 2015. Both Deputy PMs agreed to facilitate visits at all levels in a bid to share experience in management, socio-economic development, and Party-building. They expressed their appreciation for the joint preparations for the 37 th meeting of the Inter-government committee and the progress made in trade and investment, with bilateral trade exceeding 1 billion USD for the first time last year, totalling 1.16 billion USD. Host and guest highlighted the need to accelerate strategic cooperation projects, including the erection of a statue of President Ho Chi Minh in Vientiane to mark his 125 th birthday and the 85 th anniversary of the Indochinese Communist Party, as well as other celebrations next year. The guest vowed to do his utmost to foster the friendship between the two countries.-VNA