Vietnam, Laos foster agriculture and forestry cooperation

An annual meeting on the Vietnam – Laos cooperation in agriculture and forestry was held in Hanoi, on September 5, under the chair of Vietnam’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Nguyen Xuan Cuong and Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Liane Thykeo.

Delegates at the meeting (Photo: VNA)
Delegates at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

At the event, the two sides evaluated the outcomes of the cooperation between the two Governments and ministries in the 2016-2017 period and mapped out the programmes for cooperation in the coming years.

Over the past two years, the two ministries have actively coordinated in carrying out Vietnam-funded ODA projects for Laos, including the construction of a VND 35.6 billion agricultural technical service centre in Xieng Khouang province, in northern Laos, which became operational in December 2016.

Construction on a similar centre also began in Lao Houaphanh Province in February of this year at a total investment of VND 40 billion.

The two sides have also increased regular exchanges among experts and technicians of the two countries in order to share their experiences in agriculture and forestry, food safety and water resources.

Speaking at the event, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong pledged that his ministry would continue working side by side with Laos in developing its agricultural sector. He called for further policies on stimulating investment in agriculture.

On the occasion, the two ministries signed a cooperative agreement on agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development in the 2017-2018 period.

Accordingly, the two sides will focus their cooperation on fostering science research, human training and investment and trade, while increasing trade promotion activities in the two countries and advertising agricultural, forestry and fisheries products.

Programmes on cooperation in manufacture and processing in agriculture and forestry, as well as policies on removing all obstacles and creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to expand their operation in Laos, will also be put forward under the agreement.