Vietnam has signed a deal with Laos to import around 20 million tons of coal a year for the next five years.
The memorandum of understanding was signed for the purpose Thursday by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines.
Laos has been an important supplier of coal and other minerals to Vietnam in recent years.
Vietnam imported 1.8 million tons of ores and minerals for US$78.2 million from that country last year, and 900,000 tons worth $31.6 million in the first half of this year.
The two also have many cooperation projects in energy such as building hydropower plants and connecting grids while Laos exports electricity to Vietnam.
Vietnam has 220 kV lines linking Laos, and is set to import at least 3,000 MW of electricity by 2025 and 5,000 MW by 2030.