Attending the Workshop were Mr. Nguyễn Quân, Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology; Mr. Boviengkham Vongdara, Laos’ Minister of Science and Technology; Mr. Trần Việt Thanh, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology; Mr. Houmphanh Intharath, Laos’ Deputy Minister of Science and Technology; Mr. Trần Tiến Dũng, Vice Chairman of Quảng Bình province; Ms. Anoumone Kittirath, Economic and Commercial Counselor of Lao Embassy in Vietnam together with more than 200 participants from two Ministries of Science and Technology and Departments of Science and Technology of Vietnamese and Lao localities.
Delivering the opening speech in the Workshop, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Trần Việt Thanh affirmed that Vietnam’s Party, State and people have always paid special attention and made continuous efforts to strengthen and develop Vietnamese – Lao traditional friendships, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation which were established and fostered in a thorough manner by Hồ Chí Minh President and Xuphanuvong President.
Over the past years, realizing clearly its responsibilities and honor, Vietnam’s MOST has always paid special attention and give high priorities for promoting S&T cooperative relations with Laos. Cooperation in S&T field between the two counties have gained many good results as that Vietnam has helped training and improving capacities for Laos’ S&T management group from the central to local level; Improving capacities of management systems of intellectual property (industrial property, copyrights and seedlings) and of standards, metrology and quality; Investing in building laboratories for scientific management and research; Studying and proposing the content of the S&T Development Strategy as well as the draft Law on S&T of Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Developing models for using S&T advancement in manufacturing and business in some localities,… have brought in practical benefits for Lao people in general and Lao scientific communities in particular.
For the period from 2009 to 2011 there were 18 tasks in Protocols which were implemented, about 170 Lao officials were provided with short-term training. The total funds Vietnam invested in Laos for the period from 2009 to 2010 was more than VND 26 billion, for the period from 2011 to 2012 it is VND 24 billion. For the coming period, Vietnam will strengthen bilateral cooperation in fields of Intellectual Property, Standards, Metrology and Quality, share experience on developing S&T policy and law system, set up database on S&T, establish and manage the S&T Development Fund, train to improve capacities for Lao’s S&T officials, …,
In the Workshop, some presentations have been delivered as Vietnam – Laos S&T Cooperation Development according to efficient and friendship orientations; Some definitions on promoting S&T cooperative relations between Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Cooperation between Quảng trị province, Savannakhet province and Salavan province… The presentations have been focused on reviewing achieved results over the past years and S&T cooperation orientations between the two countries are proposed for the coming years. At the same time, the reports have also shared difficulties as well as lessons learnt during the cooperation process which are aimed at the highest objective of improving the cooperation efficiency in S&T field and bringing special relations between the countries to a new high level.
Mr. Trần Tiến Dũng, Vice Chairman of Quảng Bình province also said that over the past time cooperative relations between the two nations have achieved many promising results in many fields, including S&T. The Workshop has a very important meaning in improving special friendship relations between the two nations and specifying guidelines of the two Parties and States. The Vice Chairman believed that Vietnam – Laos cooperative relations in all fields in general and S&T field in particular would be brought to a new high level, contributing to ensure the defense and security of the two countries, especially strengthening forever and close friendships and solidarity.
On this occasion, Vietnam’s MOST has awarded the Medal for S&T Campaign to Lao Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Boviengkham Vongdara and Certificate of Merits of Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology to Mr. Houmphanh Intharath, Lao Deputy Minister of Science and Technology.
Also in the Workshop, Vietnam’s MOST has awarded Laos’ MOST with information technology equipment package within the framework of Cooperation Protocol between the two countries and the Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Hanoi’s Department of S&T and Vientiane’s Department of S&T.
Before on September 04, 2012, Laos’ Prime Minister had a courtesy meeting with Mr. Nguyễn Quân, Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology. In the meeting, Minister Nguyễn Quân reported on the status of Vietnam – Laos S&T Cooperation in the current period, orientations for S&T Cooperation for the coming time as well as proposed some contents on S&T cooperation between the two countries. Lao Prime Minister has highly appreciated S&T cooperation results between the two countries over the past time. The Prime Minister believed that for the coming time cooperative relations would be developed in a stronger and more suitable manner.
Within the framework of the exchange event on September 05, 2012 in Khammuane (Laos) also took place the Official meeting with Vietnam – Laos Friendship Exchange Festival between Vietnam’s MOST and Laos’ MOST. Attending the meeting were Laos’ Minister of Science and Technology and Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology, Vietnamese Ambassador in Laos, the Governor of Khammuan and more than 200 participants working in S&T fields of Laos and Vietnam. Delivering a speech in the Meeting, Mr. Nguyễn Quân, Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology was glad to say that in the exciting atmosphere of the people of the two countries to celebrate the 35th anniversary of signing Vietnam – Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty (1977 - 2012) and 50 anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries (1962 - 2012), Vietnam’s MOST coordinated with Laos’ MOST to formally organize “Year of Vietnam – Laos Friendship and Solidarity 2012”. 50 years ago also in this Day (September 05, 1962) Vietnam and Lao People’s Democratic Republic officially formed diplomatic relations. This is an extremely important historic event of Party, State and people of the two countries. So far special solidarity relatives, comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam – Laos have been always built up and fostered by efforts of many revolutionary generations of Vietnam and Laos during the historic length. Vietnam’s MOST has always believed that S&T cooperative relations between the two countries of Vietnam and Laos would be developed to a new high level, according to the quality and efficiency motto, contributing to successfully implementing “Vietnam – Laos Strategy for Economic, Cultural, Science – Technology Strategy for the period from 2011 to 2020” approved by the Government of the two countries.
Delivering a speech in the Workshop, Mr. Boviengkham Vongdara, Laos’ Ministry of Science and Technology highly appreciated cooperation results of the two countries in S&T field. The Minister said that the Exchange Program on celebrating 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations and 35th anniversary of Vietnam – Laos Friendship and Solidarity Treaty has marked an important point in special friendship relations in many fields in general and in S&T field in particular between the two countries, which would be always close and sustainable for a long time.
On this important event, Mr. Nguyễn Quân, Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology has been honorably awarded with ITSALA Medal Rank II of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Laos’ MOST has also awarded Labor Medal Rank II to Mr. Trần Việt Thanh – Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Friendship Medal to Mr. Mai Hà – Director of Department of International Cooperation and Certificate of Merit of the Prime Minister to Ms. Hà Lâm Hồng – Deputy Director of Department of International Cooperation, Vietnam’s MOST.
In addition to above mentioned activities, MOST missions of the two countries have also had other activities as visiting Vietnam’s technology transfer work in Laos, visiting S&T enterprises in Vietnam, visiting historical relics, exchanging art performance and football matches between MOST’s staff of the two countries.
Below are some photos on the Exchange Program:
Prime Minister of Lao’s People Democratic Republic had a cordial meeting with Mr. Nguyễn Quân, Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology
Mr. Nguyễn Quân, Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology delivered a speech in the Meeting on September 05, 2012 in Khammuane Province – Lao People’s Democratic Republic
The awarding ceremony of Medal ITSALA Rank II of the State of Lao People’s Democratic Republic to Mr. Nguyễn Quân, Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology
Awarding ceremony of Labor Medal Rank II to Mr. Trần Việt Thanh, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology
Awarding ceremony of Medal for S&T Campaign to Mr. Boviengkham, Laos’ Minister of Since and Technology
Awarding ceremony of Certificate of Merit of Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology to Mr. Houmphanh Intharath, Laos’ Deputy Minister of Science and Technology
Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology, Laos’s Minister of Science and Technology and the mission to visit Thanh Hương S&T enterprise in Quảng Bình province
Exchange of art performance between Vietnam’s MOST and Laos’ MOST