On June 25th 2017, at the fourth meeting of the Vietnam – Laos Science, Technology Cooperation Committee, the Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) and Laos Science and Technology Development Fund (FOSTED) signed the Bilateral Memorandum of Understanding. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Science and Technology of Socialist Republic of Vietnam Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh; Member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, Minister of Science and Technology of Lao People’s Democratic Republic Mr. Boviengkham Vongdara and Leaders of units under the Ministry and some Provinces of Vietnam and Laos.

Mr Do Tien Dung, Director of NAFOSTED and Ms Keophayvanh Douangsavanh, Chief Secretary of FOSTED signed the MOU

Within the framework of the MOU, NAFOSTED and FOSTED agreed to cooperate in researching and developing policies and documents guiding the implementation of the science, technology funding and supporting program, so that consultation and recommendation could be made to be considered by FOSTED to apply in Laos. Also, NAFOSTED committed to support FOSTED in management capacity improvement through staff exchange program between both sides for training, sharing knowledge as well as experiences in the creation and execution of funding and supporting program. Besides, joint research project will also be carried out to foster and enhance bilateral collaboration in S&T development of both sides.

The fourth meeting of the Vietnam – Laos Science, Technology Cooperation Committee is one of several events in Vietnam – Laos Friendship Exchange 2017 in the occasion of celebrating 55th anniversary of the establishment of Laos – Vietnam diplomatic relation and 40th years of signing Laos – Vietnam Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.