The conference was co-organised by the Vietnam Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the Laos Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

Speaking at the conference, the Lao Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Onnecchanh Thammavong, affirmed that the conference is a good opportunity for both sides to exchange experiences since the first one held in Da Nang in 2009 and to discuss measures to boost cooperation between the two countries.

MoLISA Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the conference marks important progress in labour and social welfare cooperation between the two countries. Specific cooperative measures to implement agreements signed by leaders from the two countries will be discussed.

Vietnam and Laos will cooperate in implementing employment policies, vocational training, unemployment insurance, overseas labour management and labour exports.

Vietnam currently has 248 projects in Laos with a combined capital of US$3.1 billion. The projects are mainly in the fields of electricity, minerals, agriculture and services.