Hoang Minh Son, Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam, and Thongsalith Mangnomek, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports of Laos, exchanged a memorandum of understanding on cooperation on the afternoon of 7/6. This event took place during the Lao Prime Minister's visit to Vietnam and participation in the ASEAN Future Forum.

Specifically, both sides agreed to strengthen the implementation of Lao language teaching in Vietnam and to expand and improve the quality of Vietnamese language teaching in Laos. They also committed to promoting teacher training and development, and to developing and compiling curricula, textbooks, and learning materials for language instruction in both countries.

The two sides will also promote cooperation in receiving Lao students to study at boarding schools in Vietnam's border provinces.

The Ministry of Education and Training stated that the signing of the memorandum marked a significant milestone in education and training cooperation between the two countries. This contributes to concretizing high-level agreements between the leaders of the two Parties and States of Vietnam and Laos. It also continues the effective implementation of the project "Improving the quality and effectiveness of Vietnam - Laos cooperation in education and human resource development for the 2021–2030 period."

Minister Hoang Minh Son and the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education and Sports of Laos, exchanged the memorandum on the afternoon of 7/6. *Photo: MOET*

Vietnam and Laos established diplomatic relations on 5/9/1962. In 2/2019, the two sides agreed to elevate their relationship from "traditional friendship" to a "great friendship relationship."

Education and training cooperation is a crucial pillar in bilateral relations. Vietnam is currently one of the largest host countries for Lao students, with about 14,000 individuals.

In February, Vietnam and Laos also agreed to cooperate on establishing a Vietnamese university in Laos, prioritizing fields such as natural sciences, pedagogy, technology, and computer science.

In Vietnam, the Ministry of Education and Training announced a pilot program to teach the Lao language in 9 schools across 9 border provinces adjacent to Laos this year.

The education ministers of both countries affirmed their continued close coordination to effectively implement cooperation initiatives in the new phase. This aims to meet each nation's human resource development needs, further deepening the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

Duong Tam