Month: June 2022

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Laos, Vietnam pledge to increase bilateral trade by 8-10% yearly

Lao and Vietnamese Ministries of Industry and Commerce have pledged to urge private businesses of the two countries to continue to increase the annual volume of bilateral trade by 8-10% through 2025.

“This goal is part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Laos and Vietnam (Sep 5, 1962 – 2022) and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, (Jul 18, 1977 – 2022),” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Khampheng Xaysompheng.

“Both sides need to continue implementing the Laos-Vietnam Bilateral Cooperation Agreement 2021-2025 and continue to discuss on an annual basis the cooperation plan between the two ministries through 2030, promote bilateral trade and remove obstacles to business operation in the two countries,” said the minister.

Source: Lao News Agency

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Health Minister, Australian Ambassador inspect demonstration of Covid-19 vaccination system

Minister of Health Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, Australian Ambassador to the Lao PDR Paul Kelly and UNICEF Lao PDR Operations Manager Helena Soldatova on May 31 visited the Pathana Secondary School, Sisattanak district, Vientiane to witness the demonstration of the vaccination system in the Lao PDR.

The visit also marked the 1st anniversary of the tripartite cooperation under the Covid-19 vaccination in the Lao PDR project funded by the Australian government and implemented by UNICEF and the Ministry of Health.

Australia’s Covid-19 vaccine support aims to ensure the safe and effective administration of Covid-19 vaccines, a key to pandemic control and economic recovery in the Lao PDR.

Across the Lao PDR, over 5.8 million people have been vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccines including 5.05 million given all recommended doses, sharing 68.8% of population in the country.

Source: Lao News Agency

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Laos, India celebrate Arbour Day

The Ministry of Education and Sports in cooperation with the Indian Embassy in Vientiane organized a tree planting event to mark the 150th anniversary of Planting of Trees in Mahatma Gandhi’s Memory and Laos’ National Arbour Day or Tree Planting Day (Jun 1) at the Lao-India Entrepreneurship Development Centre, Vientiane.

The event aimed to encourage people to plant trees and contribute to the production of food, maintain ecological balance, improve air quality, and the protection of natural resources including water, soil and wildlife.

It also demonstrated the cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Embassy of India to the Lao PDR, according to Minister of Education and Sports Phout Simmalavong.

In India, the Van Mahotsav or the Forest Festival is celebrated annually for a full week, from the 1st to 7th July. It aims to encourage people to plant more and more trees.

“As we plant trees here today, it reminds me of a news article published in the Vientiane Times a few days ago stating that the “Lao Forestry Ministry targets planting of 35 million trees this year as part of efforts to create more green areas and achieve forest cover of 70 % by 2025,” said Indian Ambassador to the Lao PDR Dinkar Asthana. “It gives me immense satisfaction that I would also be planting a tree at the LIEDC premises and contributing towards the green initiative launched by the government of the Lao PDR.”

Source: Lao News Agency