The contract was signed between the Lao government and Long Van Company of Vietnam. Attending the event was Lao Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Sisou Phanthong, head of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Department of Geology and Mineral Resources Khampha Phommakaysone, and Charge d’Affaires of Vietnam in Laos Hoang Xuan Hai. Following an initial survey of 600 hectares out of a total of 15,000ha, the Long Van company has found a reserve of nearly 60 million tonnes of coal in Xam Neua. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Director of Long Van company Pham Ngoc Long pledged to ensure the project’s efficiency in tandem with environment protection, as well as generating more local jobs, which will contribute to furthering the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.