VIENTIANE, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The first official scientific and technological human resources training center in Laos opened in the capital Vientiane, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Tuesday.

The training center, which was first launched in 2015 under the Lao Ministry of Science and Technology, cost about 98 billion dong (4.3 million U.S. dollars) with Vietnam providing 89 billion dong.

"The center will be used to enhance the capacity of officials and research, meet the requirements of domestic development and international integration, and promote the country's scientific research," Lao Minister of Science and Technology Boviengkham Vongdara said.

The opening ceremony was attended by Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Speaking at the ceremony, Boviengkham said the center was part of the strategy to build the capacity of scientists so they could contribute to the nation's development.