Attending the meeting, there were appearances of Mr. Bouasone Bouphavanh, former commissioner of the Laotian Politburo, former Prime Minister of Laos, Head of Laos National Economic Research Institute (NERI) as head of the delegation; Mr. Bounluea Sinxayvorlavong, Director of Laos Ministry of Finance; Mr. Kongkeo Vongpaseuth, Director of Laos Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; Mr. Ousavanh Thiengthevongsa, Assistant Director NIER; Mr. Phasouk Vongvichit, Deputy Director of Laos Ministry of Public Health; Mrs. Phothichanh Thammatheva, Deputy Director of Laos State Bank; Mr. Sisamouth Keoxayya, Deputy of NIER secretary department; Mr. Sivone Ruevaibounthavy, NIER Researcher; Delegates from the Central Party Economic Committee. In the VASS side, there was Prof.Dr. Nguyen Quang Thuan, VASS’s President; Dr. Dang Xuan Thanh, VASS’s Vice President; Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ha, Head of the International Cooperation Department; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Quang Tuan, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Chien Thang, Deputy Director of Vietnam Institute of Economics; Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Lan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Southeast Asian Studies; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Dang Phuong Hoa, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Economic Research.
 |
 |
At the opening, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Chien Thang summarized the situation of the joint implementation project “Economic restructuring towards fast and sustainable development in Laos and Vietnam”, implemented by the Vietnam Institute of Economics. The Deputy Director said that there would be a preliminary assessment report on Vietnam's economic restructuring from 2011 to the present, expected by the end of July 2019. In addition, the Institute would conduct research and analysis Laos' economic reform experiences based on NIER documents provided. On behalf of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, Mr. Nguyen Chien Thang proposed that NIER need to complete the initial draft of Laos' research results, expected in June-July/2019 and share it with Vietnam to be the input material for a general comparative evaluation between the two countries' experiences; At the same time, it is expected to hold a general workshop in Hanoi on the basis of the two sides' research results in the third-fourth quarter of 2019.
On behalf of the NIER, Mr. Bouasone Bouphavanh highly appreciated the achievements of both sides in the framework of the joint project “Economic restructuring towards fast and sustainable development in Laos and Vietnam” in the period of 2017 - 2018. He affirmed that the cooperation of VASS and NIER remain the essential factor for the collaboration of two parties and two states in the development of both countries. Thereby, he proposed the cooperation proposal for 2019 - 2020 with the main contents: (1) Continue to carry out joint research projects; (2) Organize scientific seminars on developing a joint research project and identify support sources to support domestic and international research activities; (3) Organize a workshop to exchange lessons on how to solve issues related to small and medium enterprises in Laos and Vietnam; (4) Organize visits and work of the two institutes; (5) The NERI proposes a short and long-term human resource development plan for consideration by the Academy.
Following Mr. Bouasone Bouphavanh, President of the Academy Nguyen Quang Thuan emphasized that the cooperation between the two institutes was not only meaningful to Laos but also to Vietnam. In particular, this visit of the NIER delegation took place in the context that Vietnam was actively preparing for the 13th Congress to summarize both the theory and practice of implementing three breakthrough strategies and Government's economic restructuring plan. Hence, the content of cooperation between the two institutes was very suitable. The President has fully supported the 2019 - 2020 cooperation proposal that Mr. Buoasone Bouphavanh has given and would use both human and financial resources to participate in cooperation.
Immediately after the meeting, the cooperation agreement was signed. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Thuan affirmed that the two sides would continue to study in the direction of fast and sustainable development; The product of the project would be a recommendation for the government on both sides. The President also expected to receive Lao's human resource development plan soon for the Academy to prepare carefully and proactively.
Hong Nhung
