Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung made the statement at a reception for Lao Minister of Finance Somdi Duongdi in Hanoi yesterday.

Hung said he completely agreed with co-operation programmes between the two countries' finance ministries and asked them to continue co-operating in this field, contributing to expanding bilateral trade investment.

He said ministries and sectors of the two countries should promote the sharing of experience and assist each other, especially in human resources training for the finance and banking sector, to meet the demand of the State economic management system at central and local levels.

Somdi thanked the Vietnamese Government and Finance Ministry for their precious support to Laos in building financial mechanisms and policies and law, which affirm the Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship as an invaluable asset fostered by the two leaders and peoples.

Somdi said he hoped the Vietnamese Government provide continued support to Laos in training human resources and sharing experience in financial management in the near future, adding that in the coming time, officials of the two finance ministries would hold an exchange to tighten their co-operation.