Category: Politics

As the government is going to open the country to visitors on January 1, 2022, tourist attractions in Muang Ngoi, Luang Prabang Province have been made ready for domestic and foreign visitors to explore.

Favourite destinations in Muang Ngoi include Pha Chom Nang, Pha Daeng Peak, Pha Thok Cave, Phak Wang, and boat cruising on the Nam Ou River, among others.

“Pha Chom Nang is 100% ready to welcome visitors, especially its viewpoint, services with hygienic measures put in place to prevent Covid-19 spread,” said Mr. Ken Thongvilaisan, developer of Pha Chom Nang tourist site.

“In order to welcome visitors, we have made ready our services as well as anti-Covid-19 measures to ensure the safety of our visitors,” said Mr. Tuy Sihalat, owner of Mesing De Nong Khiew Resort.

Muang Ngoi is located about three hours drive from Luang Prabang City. It is a historical, cultural and natural destination for many domestic and foreign visitors.

Source: Lao News Agency

The Government of Japan has decided to provide grant assistance worth USD640,000 for nine projects on education, health, infrastructure and agriculture through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).

The development projects include five education projects in Phongsaly, Luang Prabang, Xayaboury, Vientiane (province) and Xekong, two health projects in Phongsaly and Oudomxay, one infrastructure project in Luang Prabang and one agriculture project in Savannakhet.

The grant contract was signed on Dec 17 between Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR Kobayashi Kenichi and representatives of the respective provincial authorities where the projects are implemented.

The education projects are for the construction of new buildings at Somsavart Primary School in Xayaboury, Huaidam-Mai Primary School in Xekong, Lahang-nyai Lower Secondary School in Phongsaly, Kasi Lower Secondary School in Vientiane and Muang-Khay Secondary School in Luang Prabang to improve the educational environment.

The health projects for the construction of water supply systems will be implemented in Longnya and Senlat villages in Oudomxay where safe water is not sufficiently available due to aging water supply facilities and a shortage of water station, and Sapa village in Phongsaly where there are difficulties with access to safe water due to water pollution in the area.

The infrastructure project is to construct a bridge and a rural road in Done-ngeun village in Luang Prabang to improve the transportation access in the neighboring areas since heavy rains has washed away existing bridges and made road conditions worse in every wet-season.

The agriculture project is to construct an irrigation channel in Kengkok-Nua Village in Savannakhet Province to improve the agricultural system since the wet-season rice crop is extremely unstable and low-yielding in this area due to the frequent large-scale floods in recent years.

Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) provides necessary funds for relatively small-scaled projects that directly benefit local residents and are aimed at economic and social development in developing countries, based on the principle of human security. In order to ensure “no-one left behind” through rectification of regional disparity, Japan will continue to support and improve the basic standard of living at grassroots level in the Lao PDR.

Source: Lao News Agency

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Poxay Khaikhamphithoun on Dec 16 received credentials of new Consul General of Vietnam to southern provinces of Laos Nguyen Van Trung whose office is located in Champassak.

Deputy Minister Poxay expressed appreciation to Mr Nguyen Van Trung upon his appointment to the post and spoke highly of Vietnam’s great contribution to the socio-economic development in Laos.

The vice minister expressed his belief that Trung will contribute significantly to the development in the four southern provinces of Champassak, Saravan, Attapeu and Sekong and strengthen their cooperation with Vietnamese counterparts.

In reply, the new Vietnamese Consul General assured the vice minister that he will work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant sectors to promote the development in the four southern provinces of Laos, strengthen the cooperation between the southern provinces of Laos and the southern provinces of Vietnam.

Source: Lao News Agency

Champassak Governor Vilayvong Boutdakham on Dec 17 received a courtesy call from new Consul General of Vietnam to southern provinces of Laos, Mr. Nguyen Van Trung.

Mr. Vilayvong expressed congratulations to Mr Nguyen Van Chung upon his appointment to the post and his belief that Mr Nguyen Van Trung will continue to enhance the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam in general, and between Champassak and Vietnamese provinces and cities in particular.

The host also asked the Vietnamese Consul General to prepare for assessing the cooperation between Champassak of Laos and the central and southern provinces of Vietnam so that both sides could celebrate the two historic events of the two countries including the 45th anniversary of Laos-Vietnam Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Laos and Vietnam.

Source: Lao News Agency

Champassak Governor Vilayvong Bouddakham on Dec 13 received a courtesy call from Chief Resident Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to the Lao PDR Toshio Nagase who has been just appointed to the post.

At the amicable talks, Mr Bouddakham congratulated Tokushima upon his appointment to the post and expressed his belief that during Nagase’s tenure, JICA and Laos in general and JICA and Champassak Province in particular will enjoy deeper cooperation.

The host and guest also highly valued the results of the cooperation between Champassak Province and JICA in recent years.

Since 2010, Champassak has received US$11.5 million worth of assistance from JICA for 46 development projects.

The Governor also asked the JICA representative to continue to provide assistance to the province in areas of education, health, public works and transport, and agriculture to promote the investment of Japanese companies in the province thus strengthening the cooperation between JICA and the southern province of Laos.

Source: Lao News Agency