Wednesday, 26 November 2008

PM attends regional trio development meeting

Prime Ministers Nguyen Tan Dung of Viet Nam and Bouasone Bouphavanh of Laos look on at the signing of a mining agreement yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Duc Tam

26-11-2008

VIENTIANE — Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh in the Lao capital of Vientiane yesterday.

Dung is in Laos to attend the fifth summit of the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam (CLV) Development Triangle, which starts today.

The two PMs informed each other of the developments in their countries and said they were satisfied to see the special relations had expanded, especially in the economy, trade and investment.

Viet Nam now has 141 investment projects in Laos worth a total of more than US$750 million. This makes it the second largest investor in Laos. Bilateral trade this year is expected to reach US$450 million.

The two leaders said they were determined to raise this to $1 billion by 2010, $2 billion by 2015 and $5 billion by 2020.

They agreed the potential for co-operation between the two countries was large, especially in hydro-electricity, mining, transport, growing and processing cash crops.

The two PMs have told relevant ministries to prepare for the coming 31st meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee between the two countries.

Dung said he was pleased to see co-operation in building residential areas along the joint border and said Viet Nam would continue to work with Laos on implementing agreements between them.

He asked the Lao Government to accelerate the co-operation on economic development projects along the border, and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to invest in the area.

The Lao PM confirmed his support for Vietnamese enterprises investing and developing businesses in Laos.

The two PMs also witnessed the signing of several co-operation agreements, including a contract to explore for bronze ore in Houm Village, Phouvong District in Attapeu Province; and a project to explore for barite ores in Savannakhet Province.

The Song Da Corporation has also invested $399 million in two hydro-electricity plants, Sebanghien No 1 and No 2. — VNS

No comments:

Post a Comment