New Delhi: Lao Peoples Democratic Republic on May 6 extended support to India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council as the two countries discussed prospects of enhancing economic cooperation in diversified areas.

Visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao Somsavat Lengsavad and External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha reviewed bilateral relations as well as Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) dimension of the relationship.

Sinha conveyed that Indian consultancy firms and companies were keen to participate in cement, textiles, edible oils, hydropower and transport sectors.

Significantly, Lao who takes over as country coordinator for India in ASEAN from July 2003, will also host the ASEAN Summit in 2004.

Sinha reiterated India's commitment to the initiative for ASEAN integration, particularly projects in Human Resource Development (HRD) and training.

It was noted that work on the ASEAN-India Vision 2020 document laying out a roadmap for long-term strategic relationship between ASEAN and India is to be finished by next year's Summit.

The two sides also reviewed scholarship and training programmes. About 450 officials from Lao have been trained in India and four IT experts from the Indian Army are in Lao teaching English language at the military academy.

Lao has expressed keenness to increase scholarships and also to send Buddhist monks to follow Buddhist studies in India.

PTI