While receiving Sommath Pholsena, Lao Minister of Communications, Transport, Posts and Construction, in Hanoi on September 6, Deputy PM Hung stressed that Vietnam and Laos have always enjoyed friendly relations. Cooperation has been most productive, especially between ministries, agencies and local authorities of the two countries.

Transport projects built in Laos with Vietnam's assistance such as the east-west roads have facilitated the transport of Laos' imports and exports through Vietnamese sea ports, Deputy PM Hung said.

Minister Sommath Pholsena expressed his thanks to the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for their assistance to Laos, especially in the transport and communications sector. He said he hoped that Laos would continue to receive assistance from Vietnam for its transport projects.

The same day, Vietnamese Minister of Transport Ho Nghia Dung received the Lao Minister.

The two sides agreed to promote exchanges of experiences in assessment and inspection of quality of transport construction sites, road safety and personnel training.

They also committed to coordinating the implementation of sub-regional and regional projects, including a triangle development scheme and cooperative transport projects in the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS).