Prime Minister meets with new Israeli ambassador

HA NOI — Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked the Israeli Embassy in Viet Nam to help speed up co-operation between the two sides in the fields of economy, trade, investment, development assistance and training in agronomy.

Dung made the request at a meeting with Amnon Efrat as he took on his new position as Israeli Ambassador to Viet Nam in the capital city yesterday.

The Prime Minister told Efrat that Viet Nam-Israel relations had been developing well in various fields, especially in agriculture.

Ambassador Efrat pledged to concentrate on speeding up co-operation, signing the Investment Protection and Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements, and focus on maritime transport in order to speed up trade and investment between the two countries.

Dung said the Viet Nam Government would create favourable conditions to help the ambassador fulfil his duties.

Viet Nam continues to invest in Laos, seeks bilateral trade

Vientiane — Viet Namhas said it would continue to invest in Laos and called on the Lao Government to create favourable conditions for bilateral trade and construction of border economic zones.

Speaking at the Lao Business Forum (LBF), which was held recently in Vientiane, President of the Business and Investment Co-operation Association Hoang Cung Thien Nhan suggested that the Lao Government prioritise the development of roads between the two countries and consider upgrading border gates. It should also offer more land for the development of rubber tree plantations, he said.

The 6th LBF attracted nearly 200 delegates from the Lao Government, State-owned and private enterprises and international donors.

The forum discussed administrative, law and regulatory reforms as well as measures to remove obstacles to Laos's economic growth. — VNS