Category: National

The Laos-China Expressway Development Cooperation Co., Ltd has announced that as from Jan 1, 2023 its new toll rates for Vientiane-Vangvieng expressway will be based on the fluctuation of the US currency.
In June 2022, the company announced that it had to base its toll rates on the values of the US dollar as its business was affected by sharp depreciation of the Lao kip against the US currency.
Vientiane-Vangvieng expressway is the first section of the Laos-China expressway which stretches between Vientiane and Laos-China border in Luang Namtha. The expressway will travel through Vientiane, Vientiane Province, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay and Luang Namtha.
Developers of the Laos-China highway recently said that the first section of the Laos-China expressway construction project lying between Vientiane and Vangvieng has been completed and was opened for public use on Dec 20, 2020.
The section, 109.11 km-long, was built between 2018 and 2020 at a cost of US$1,192 million by China’s Yunnan Construction and Investment Holding Group. It is being operated as a build-operate-transfer (BOT) project.

Source: Lao News Agency

The National Assembly approved at its ongoing 4th Ordinary Session on Thursday 12 laws including amendments to laws on Lawyers, Court Registry, State Inspection, and Science and Technology.
Other adopted included laws on Museums, Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, State Audit, Waterways, Military Prosecutor’s Office, Passports, Electronic Transactions, and Enterprises.
Vice President of the National Assembly Chaleun Yiapaoher said that these laws are important and necessary to promoting the implementation of Party and state policies as they will become a fundamental tool for realizing tasks of each sector according to the current situation, and current socio-economic development plan.

Source: Lao News Agency

President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee on Dec. 22 congratulated and encouraged recipients of a presidential science scholarship and winners of the International Science Olympiad in a “dialogue with future scientists.”
The Office of the President said the chief executive and his wife awarded certificates and medals to the scholarship students and commemorative medals and prizes to the Olympiad honorees.
In a congratulatory speech, the president said, “The free and convenient lives that we now lead is thanks to senior scientists who never gave up despite numerous trials and errors and ceaselessly pursued their own paths,” adding, “Please continue the challenge of pursuing your dreams.”
“Science develops when freedom and creativity bloom,” he added, stressing the importance of freedom of research, fairness of evaluation and proper compensation.
President Yoon also announced support for promising human resources in science, saying, “The government will be a stronger supporter of future scientists.”
The presidential office said the students freely asked the presidential couple about their dreams, ambitions, worries and interests in an informal dialogue.
Attending the event were 140 university freshmen and juniors who received the science scholarship, 44 middle and high school students who won events at the Olympiad, and nine group leaders from the tournament.

Source: Lao News Agency

President Thongloun Sisoulith on Dec 14 visited Et district, Huaphan Province where he was briefed about the implementation of the two national agendas – addressing drug issues and economic difficulties – in the locality by Governor of Et district Thongsouk Somphavanh.
The president called on the local authorities and people to continue to promote their solidarity, attach attention to the public security and defense work and making young people aware of drug menace.
Once briefed about socio-economic development in the district, the president appreciated the authorities and people for their achievements in basic infrastructure development and improving living conditions.
He also asked them to tap potentials in their locality for the sake of poverty reduction.
The president also visited Khua Ou Nam Et protected area and Et district market.

Source: Lao News Agency

Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suanesavanh Vignaket proposed to the ongoing 4th Ordinary Session of the National Assembly today a new law on museums for consideration of approval.
The legislation aims to promote the conservation and protection of ancient artifacts and development of museums.
“If approved, this law will become a fundament tool for the management, implementation of relevant works and making domestic people and foreigners better understand the policy of the Party and government on the management of museums, collections; the conservation, protection and promotion of exhibition materials, cultural and historical treasures,” Mrs Suanesavanh told the meeting chaired by Vice President of the National Assembly Khambai Damlat.
The minister said that the law will help attract assistance from domestic and international communities for the conservation of museums in the Lao PDR.
Lawmakers are expected to discuss through the end of this month the adoption of three new laws – on passports, waterways and museums – and amendments to laws on lawyers, court registry, prevention and control of infectious diseases, enterprises, science and technology, military prosecutor’s office, and electronic transactions.

Source: Lao News Agency

Members of the National Assembly have proposed the government to devise and revise relevant laws and sub-law instruments to keep unemployment rate in the country under 15% by 2025 and develop a modern labour database.
At the ongoing 4th Ordinary Session, members of the assembly asked the government to take into account the increasing of the minimum wage to improve people’s livelihoods.
The suggestion was made on Tuesday’s morning after Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Baykham Khattiya presented her report on job creation and labor skills development for Lao people.
The lawmakers also asked the government to improve curricula on vocational training in line with the requirements of Industry 4.0 and encourage private sector to invest more in vocational training and job creation for people in rural areas, and organize job fairs to help jobseekers access the labor market.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has been trying to promote employment in domestic and overseas markets. As a result, the country’s unemployment has been decreased so far this year, and expected to be 18% (423,427 people) by the end of this year, said Minister Baykham Khattiya.

Source: Lao News Agency