PM hails Vietnam-Laos banking cooperation

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc lauded the diverse and intensive cooperation between the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and the Bank of the Lao PRD (BOL) in recent years, while receiving BOL Governor Sonexay Sitphaxay in Hanoi on January 9.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and Governor of the Bank of the Lao PRD Sonexay Sitphaxay (Photo: VGP)
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and Governor of the Bank of the Lao PRD Sonexay Sitphaxay (Photo: VGP)

The PM briefed his guest on the outcomes of the 41st meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, which he chaired alongside his Laos counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith in Hanoi on January 5-6.

The two sides reviewed their collaboration in 2018 and agreed on a cooperative plan for 2019, focusing on raising two-way trade by at least 10 % as compared with the previous year, he said.

PM Phuc affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to assist the Lao Government in economic stabilisation and development.

He asked SBV Governor Le Minh Hung to instruct the banking sector to aid the BOL, suggesting that experts should be sent to Laos to help improve the professional knowledge of BOL officials.

The leader expressed his belief that Vietnam and Laos will work together to realise the initiatives and agreements reached by their leaders, covering sectors which are of interest to the BOL and the Lao Government.

For his part, Sonexay Sitphaxay said he is glad to attend the SBV’s conference to put forth tasks for 2019 on the same day, saying that, through the event, the Lao side has learnt from the Vietnamese central bank’s experience in management.

He noted his hope for more cooperation, support and experience sharing from Vietnam in the fields of finance and banking.