The 2nd session of Vietnam – Laos Science and Technology Cooperation Committee

(Photo: The panorama of 2^nd session of Vietnam – Laos Science and Technology Cooperation Committee)

Participating in the session, in Vietnamese side were Deputy Minister Tran Viet Thanh and representatives from MOST’s functional agencies. In Lao side was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos Somphone Sichaleune, Vice Chairman (Deputy Minister) Sakhone Chaleunvong and representatives from Departments, Agencies and Institutes of Laos’ Ministry of Science and Technology.

In the session, the two parties have reviewed S&T cooperation activities over the past time and agreed on the new cooperation program for the 2012- 2013 period in order to promote S&T development of the two countries.

Over the past years, Vietnam’s MOST has always paid special attention and give high priorities to promoting S&T cooperative relations with the People’s Democratic Republic of Las in order to strengthen and continuously develop Vietnam – Laos special friendship relations and comprehensive cooperation.

S&T cooperation between the two countries have gained many good results. Vietnam has supported to train and improve capacities for Laos’ S&T managers from central to local level, to invest in building laboratories for scientific management and research, develop models for applying S&T advancements in business and production in some localities, bringing practical benefits for Lao people in general and for scientist communities in particular.

Delivering a speech in the session, Minister of Science and Technology affirmed that “The organization of this second session will mark a new development step to bring S&T cooperation to a higher level, contributing to improve the special friendship solidarity of the two countries’ people”. At the same time, Minister Nguyen Quan expressed his desire that scientists of the two countries would cooperate more closely and efficiently with each other to make S&T become the development motivation of the two countries.

On behalf of Laos’ Government and MOST, Minister Boviengkham Vongdara thanked Vietnam’s Party and State as well as Vietnam’s MOST for always providing supports for Laos’ MOST. Laos’s Minister of Science and Technology Boviengkham Vongdara emphasized “The development in terms of S&T field is the strength to promote the development of the economy in general. The development of S&T application in production and business contribute to the development of the two countries.

In the session, the two parties totally agreed on Vietnam – Laos S&T Cooperation Program for the 2012- 2013 period, in order to promote Vietnam – Laos cooperative relations in general and cooperation in S&T field in particular which are increasingly developed. Accordingly the program consists of following specific tasks: Training to improve capacities for staff of Lao’s MOST for the 2012- 2013 period; Training human resource and provide equipment for Lao’s S&T Information Center; Strengthening cooperation in the field of standards, metrology and quality; S&T cooperation between Quảng Trị province and Salavan province; Legal support for Laos in the participation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Strengthening monitoring capacities of water resources by remote sensing and GIS technology for Laos.

Laos’ Minister of Science and Technology Boviengkham Vongdara said that during the implementation of the IX Party Congress Resolution and the VII 5-year social and economic plan of Lao Government, Laos’ MOST would focus on 4 breakthroughs, which are on thinking; human resource training; management mechanism and legal system; poverty alleviation.

In order to recognize the contribution of groups and individuals in the successful implementation of tasks in S&T cooperation between Vietnam and Laos over the past time, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos decided to reward the II ranked Labor Medal for Mr. Hoàng Văn Phong, ex-Minister of Science and Technology; the III ranked Labor Medal for Mr. Thạch Cần, ex-Director of Department of International Cooperation; the Friendship Medal for Mr. Lê Thanh Bình, Deputy Director of Department of International Cooperation and Mr. Vũ Văn Khiêm, Director of MOST Management Training Institute; Certificate of Merit of Prime Minister of Lao Government for MOST Management Training Institute.

Also on this occasion, Minister of Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology signed the decision on presenting the Certificate of Merit to Laos’ National Office of S&T Commission (currently Laos’ MOST); the Certificate of Merit to Mr. Sakhone Chaleunvong, Standing Vice Chairman of Laos’ MOST; the Certificate of Merit to Mr. Phimpha Outthachack, Deputy Chief of Laos’ National Office of S&T Commission.