Vietnam wants to boost its multi- faceted cooperation with Laos, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said while having talks with his visiting Lao counterpart, Bouasone Bouphavanh, on Tuesday.

The Vietnamese prime minister suggested that the two sides should beef up cooperation in the construction of hydroelectric plants, mining, and cultivation of cash crops, especially rubber trees.

Dung affirmed that Vietnam supports Laos' bid to join the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and host the Francophone Conference in 2007.

The Vietnamese prime minister also highly appreciated the visit, the first overseas trip of Bouasone Bouphavanh since he took office in June, saying that it marks an advancing step in the special friendship between the two countries.

Bouphavanh said the two sides should enhance cooperation and exchanges, especially in the fields of training, investment and infrastructure construction, among sectors at both central and local levels.

On the same day, Bouphavanh met with Nong Duc Manh, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, State President Nguyen Minh Triet and Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong.

Source: Xinhua