The Vietnamese Embassy in Laos and the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines (LMEM) jointly held a symposium themed ‘Vietnam-Laos Hydropower Co-operation: Reality and Prospects’ in Vientiane on November 23.
Attending the event were Lao Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Thongmy Phommixay, LMEM Deputy Minister Xomboun Ratsasombath and Vietnamese Ambassador Ta Minh Chau.
The symposium assessed that hydropower is a strength of the Lao economy and also an important co-operative area between Vietnam and Laos, which attracts a huge Vietnamese investment.
To date, the Lao government has licensed 16 Vietnamese hydropower projects with a total designed capacity of over 4,000 MW.
However, the hydropower co-operation between Vietnam and Laos is still facing several difficulties such as poor infrastructure, unqualified labour force and remote project locations.
Participants at the symposium discussed measures to solve these difficulties in order to boost the bilateral co-operation in this field, meeting the aspiration of the two countries’ high-ranking leaders.
On behalf of the Lao government, Deputy Minister Ratsasombath thanked Vietnam for its assistance for and co-operation with Laos in various fields, including hydropower.
Ambassador Chau called on Vietnamese businesses to strengthen hydropower co-operation with Lao partners and pledged to do his best to foster this strategic co-operation.
Vietnam, Laos strengthen hydropower co-operation
Vietnam and Lao jointly held a symposium themed ‘Vietnam-Laos Hydropower Co-operation: Reality and Prospects’ in Vientiane.
Source: VNA
