Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's economic hub, and the capital city of Laos, Vientiane, signed an agreement on December 11 to continue in further co-operation measures in 14 different areas between 2007 and 2010.

The municipal authorities agreed on continuous exchange of annual visits by high-level officials and experts to work on mutual issues of concern.

Both sides nodded to press ahead with a project to build a modern medical diagnostic centre in Vientiane under the build-operate-transfer formula within 10 years.

They also pledged to facilitate the participation of HCM City businessmen in trade fairs and in meeting Vientiane counterparts as well in building supermarkets in Vientiane. Ho Chi Minh City will assist Vientiane to organise a conference calling for foreign investment into Laos.

Other co-operation areas will be urban development and management, the fight against social evils and negative phenomena, in addition to tourism.

In 2007, a series of celebrations will be organised to mark the 45 year-old diplomatic ties and the 30-year co-operation agreement between Vietnam and Laos, and events like "HCM City Days in Vientiane" and "Vientiane Days in HCM City" will be held in both cities.

While implementing 2001-2006 municipal co-operation agreement, businesses and charitable organisations from Ho Chi Minh City took part in many activities in Vientiane.

The Saigon Plastics Joint Stock Company poured US $1.3 million in building the Saplast-Vientiane mill.

The Association for the Support of Poor Patients conducted free eye surgeries on 3,000 poor patients in Vientiane and Champassak province. It also transferred eye surgery techniques to Laotian doctors.

The Saigon Agriculture Corportation organised training courses for Lao technicians and ventured with Laos's Ladico company to establish outlets for the distribution of pesticides in Laos.

HCM City financed the establishment of a finance database centre in Vientiane while HCM City-based financial and tax experts increase their sharing of experiences with their Vientiane colleagues.

Co-operation in education and youth affairs have been also boosted by the two cities over the past years. (VNA)