He made the statement while meeting with NERI Director Bouasone Bouphavanh, who is also former Prime Minister of Laos, in Hanoi on December 8.

He expressed his delight at the cooperation between NERI and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) in researching and consulting their respective Parties and States about economic guidelines and policies.

Hue hoped they will work harder to contribute to the countries’ relations, as in line with the spirit of the Vietnam-Laos joint statement issued on the occasion of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to Laos last November.

NERI and VASS should increase research cooperation to consult their Governments about policies to connect the two economies, reform the structure of trade goods, boost bilateral trade revenue, and capitalise upon each country’s advantages to help each other develop sustainably, he said.

Stressing huge cooperation potential, especially in economy, the Deputy Prime Minister asked both sides press on with studying policies on investment attraction, land, taxation, infrastructure connection, and human resources development.

Bouasone Bouphavanh, who is on a working visit to Vietnam, noted NERI is a newly-founded agency that researches and consults the Lao Party and State about socio-economic development policies.

The institute is working with VASS to share experience in making socio-economic development policies, he added, hoping for more assistance from the Vietnamese Government to their collaboration.

VNA