Vientiane Times
ນາຍົກເນັ້ນພາກສວ່ນທຸລະກິດແມ່ນເປັນກຳລັງແຮງທີ່ສຸດໃນການພັດທະນາຊົນນະບົດ
- Title
- ນາຍົກເນັ້ນພາກສວ່ນທຸລະກິດແມ່ນເປັນກຳລັງແຮງທີ່ສຸດໃນການພັດທະນາຊົນນະບົດ
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
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- Govt agrees to lower electricity rates to promote productivity.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- The government has agreed to lower the cost of electricity in a move to create more incentives for boosting investment and productivity while improving the livelihoods of low-income earners.
The agreement was reached at a meeting of cabinet members, provincial governors and the Vientiane Mayor held in the capital this week.
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Dr Khammany Inthirath, informed a news conference on Thursday about the outcome of the new electricity rates approved by the government..
He said residential electricity price will drop by 50 percent while the electricity rates for industrial factories will decrease by 7 to 16 percent once the new electricity price scheme is enforced.
The minister was unable to confirm the exact date for the Electricite du Laos (EDL) to charge the new electricity rates as it requires months to install the new system. The Ministry of Energy and Mines proposed that households that consumed 50kwh per month will be charged a spec...
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- Govt to focus on funding existing development projects.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- The government has announced that new State investment projects planned for this year will be postponed until 2020, a move aimed at maintaining the country’s financial liquidity.
As a result of a revenue shortfall, the government has moved to concentrate on financing existing development projects and disaster recovery related projects that were approved by the National Assembly in the past six months of this year.
Addressing a meeting of cabinet members, provincial governors and the Vientiane Mayor in the capital yesterday, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith called for all sectors to enhance their efforts to implement the country’s socio-economic development plan for the rest of the year.
Mr Thongloun said that although Laos achieved high economic growth over the past few months of this year, the country still faced risks which could hinder national development. Laos, he said, was vulnerable to the impact of external factors, and the trade dispute between the US a...
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- NA approves reshuffle of leading officials
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- National Assembly members on Friday approved the appointment of Mr Khampha Sengdara as the new President of the People’s Supreme Court, and Mr Vidong Xayasone as the new Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Approval of the two appointments was given after being proposed by President Bounnhang Vorachit and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. The appointments were finalised after a majority vote by Assembly members.
Mr Khampha was previously Vice President of the People’s Supreme Court. Due to his outstanding performance he was promoted to the presidential post, replacing the outgoing president Khamphan Sitthidampha, who has taken up a new position.
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- NA opens with highlight on shortcomings
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- The seventh ordinary session of the National Assembly (NA)’s 8th Legislature kicked off yesterday, highlighting the country’s weak economy among the shortcomings that the government must do more to address.
Delivering her opening remarks, NA President Mrs Pany Yathotou said the biannual session would also consider the appointment of new members of the government cabinet in line with a proposal made by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.
President Bounnhang Vorachit, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, cabinet members and National Assembly members attended the opening session yesterday.
Parliamentarians will elect the President of the People’s Supreme Court in accordance with a proposal made by President Bounnhang Vorachit.
Vice President of the NA Dr Bounpone Boutanavong, representing parliament’s Standing Committee, highlighted a number of shortcomings that the government should exert greater effort to address.
“Economic growth is stil...
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- Nam Mang 3 dam goes green on Arbour Day
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- The EDL-Generation Public Company hosted a ceremony to plant trees in Thoulakhom district, Vientiane province, to preserve the environment and mark National Arbour Day.
This year, apart from planting trees, the company has released 20,000 fish into waterways and donated educational and sports equipment to four primary schools in Phoukhao Kuay Mai, Nam Yam, Phoupaman and Vang Heua villages in Thoulakhom district.
The ceremony was led by the Minister of Energy and Mines, Dr Khammany Inthirath, and the President of EDL-Gen, Mrs Lattana Pathoumvan, and attended by special guests.
“EDL-Gen has been organising similar ceremonies each year since 2012. This year we have planted about 650 trees and released fish fingerings in the area of the conservation pond at the Nam Mang 3 hydropower plant. Our goal is to beautify the site and preserve the environment, as well as protect biodiversity around the dam to ensure its sustainability, Mrs Lattana said.
The Nam Mang 3 da...
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- PM emphasises rule-based world order at int’l conference
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Upholding and strengthening existing international rules is the best way to overcome today’s challenges, while seeking a new world order can be an option in addressing emerging issues, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told an international conference in Japan on Friday.
The conference on the future of Asia, with the theme ”Seeking a new global order - overcoming the chaos”, took place at a time when the global order is being threatened and undermined. The world is beset by uncertainties, including the US-China trade war, and the rise of protectionism.
Mr Thongloun said the world was confronting complications, chaos and conflicts at varying levels.
Among the many issues are the policies put forward by countries that have a major role in both setting the rules and also leading their implementation. These countries are now in conflict and their disputes show no sign of easing anytime soon.
“These conditions have created anxiety and concern among the inter...
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- Investigators: Dam collapse not a “force majeure” event
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- The collapse of saddle dam D at the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric power project in Attapeu province last year was not considered as “force majeure”, a senior government official said yesterday.
Vice President of the National Investigation Committee (NIC) formed by the government to investigate the cause of the disaster, which killed dozens of villagers and left thousands homeless, revealed the findings of the investigation at a press conference.
Mr Singphet Bounsavatthiphanh said that even if rainfall was quite heavy on the days before the July 23, 2018 failure, the reservoir level was still below the maximum operation level and well below the crest level when the failure started.
“Thus, the failure incident cannot be considered as ‘force majeure’,” he told local media at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The government set up the National Investigation Committee to thoroughly investigate, verify and report to the government, the general publi...
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- ບັນຫາປູກກ້ວຍທີ່ສົ່ງຜົນກະທົບຕໍ່ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ ແມ່ນມາຈາກນັກລົງທຶນເຂົ້າຫາປະຊາຊົນໂດຍກົງ
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- ການປູກກ້ວຍຂອງນັກລົງທຶນຕ່າງປະເທດໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນນັກລົງທຶນຈາກປະເທດເພື່ອນບ້ານ ມີການຂະຫຍາຍຕົວໃນທົ່ວປະເທດ ແລະ ເປັນຈຸດສົນໃຈຂອງສັງຄົມໃນປັດຈຸບັນຍ້ອນວ່າບາງໂຄງການປູກກ້ວຍໄດ້ສົ່ງຜົນກະທົບຕໍ່ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ ແລະ ຊຸມຊົນ ຈາກການໃຊ້ຢາທີ່ເປັນສານພິດມີຄວາມອັນຕະລາຍຕໍ່ ສັດ, ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ ແລະ ສຸກຂະພາບຂອງປະຊາຊົນທີ່ດຳລົງຊີວິດໃກ້ສວນກ້ວຍດັ່ງກ່າວ, ຢາກໃຫ້ລັດຖະບານສັ່ງໂຈະ ແລະ ຢຸດການ...
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- Tough life for student boat driver
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- While Luang Prabang has rightfully earned a reputation for being a delightful place to visit, the turnover of cashed up tourists in the northern city has caused inflation and meant increased cost of living pressures for many of the locals.
Of the different socio-economic groups occupying the city, my observations reveal that it is the students of Luang Prabang who have some of the toughest times coping with the economic realities of modern life.
With 90 hotels, 387 resorts and guesthouses, 300 restaurants and 19 entertainment venues, many assume that suitable part time work for students in the hospitality industry would be abundant. However, the students I spoke to said work opportunities were difficult to find because not many positions are advertised and competition is fierce when they are.
More: http://vientianetimes.org.la
Patithin Phetmeuangphuan
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- New project aims to reduce malnutrition ,
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- A new project that aims to tackle malnutrition and improve the dietary intakes of children and families in Vientiane and Borikhamxay provinces was launched on Thursday.
The Nutrition Convergence Support Project is the result of ongoing collaboration between local authorities and Caritas Luxembourg in Laos. It will begin this year and will run for 12 months. It is being delivered at a cost of around 2.8 billion kip which will be spent on activities and workshops in the target provinces.
The project agreement was signed by Deputy Director General of the Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health, Dr Phonepaseuth Ounaphom, and Head of Mission at Caritas Luxembourg in Laos, Ms Louise Anja Kelly.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Attaché to the Embassy of Luxembourg, Ms Julie Wagner, along with officials from the Ministry of Health.
Ms Wagner said the Lao Social Indicator Survey II 2017 showed evidence of improved nutrition and ...
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- Pi Mai Lao, nation welcomes Year of the Pig
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Millions of people across the country enjoyed the traditional Pi Mai Lao celebration this week by welcoming the New Year 2562, which is the Year of the Pig.
Despite temperatures soaring to above 40 degrees over the three-days of Pi Mai over April 14-16, many folk braved the heat to have fun throwing water at each other along many of the major roads in Vientiane.
Some people organised Baci ceremonies and invited family and friends for this very special time which is also the biggest festival of the year on the Buddhist calendar in Laos.
Temples nationwide saw the usual influx of devotees following the age-old tradition of Songnampha which involves pouring water over Buddha images. This family-centred event sees groups going from place to place to visit at least nine temples in the belief that this will bring good luck during the coming year.
This year, many provinces across the country organised Miss Lao New Year processions (Nang Sangkhan) and colourful perfo...
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- Lao New Year 2019 in Vientiane.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
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- Vientiane Times
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
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- Monument to former president unveiled in Vientiane
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- A monument to former President Nouhak Phoumsavanh was officially unveiled in Vientiane yesterday by the President of the Lao PDR, Bounnhang Vorachit, together with Party and government leaders.
The monument has been built to commemorate the life of President Nouhak Phoumsavanh who fought for years alongside President Kaysone Phomvihane and other leaders in the revolutionary movement to liberate Laos.
It also serves to highlight the pivotal role he played in the development of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic until 2008.
The monument is located at his home in Saphanthong Neua village, Sisattanak district. Historic photos highlighting Laos’ development adorn the walls of the home which also features his old office, library and other items that demonstrate his dedication to improving the lives of people around the country.
http://vientianetimes.org.la
Souknilundon Southivongnorath
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- 25th anniversary of Vientiane Times
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Lao Press in Foreign Languages this week will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Vientiane Times newspaper on April 07, 1994 -April 07, 2019.
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- Asean journalists tackle cooperation to overcome regional challenges
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Enhancing media cooperation and the challenges facing the profession in the region were tabled for discussion among members of the Confederation of Asean Journalists (CAJ) as they began their meeting in Vientiane yesterday.
Some challenging include the closure of many print media outlets and the downsizing of news organisations, the struggle of mainstream media to maintain credibility, and the new scourge of fake news and disinformation.
In his welcoming remarks, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, and President of Lao Journalists Association (LJA), Mr Savankhone Razmountry noted the importance of the media in promoting the region’s vision and deepening people’s understanding as measures to overcome the challenges.
“We, as media administrators, should encourage our media personnel to report more regularly on all of our priorities and plans in order to promote the Asean Vision 2025,” Mr Savankhone said, stressing the raising of awareness and de...
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- Laos, China boost economic and trade cooperation
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Investment between China and Laos has witnessed solid development since the two countries formed the Laos-China Economic and Trade Promotion Association (LCEPA) for cooperation in the sector.
C l o s e n e i g h b o u r l y relations between the Lao and Chinese people and both governments are the basis for good cooperation in the energy and mines sector, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Dr Sinava Souphanouvong, told the annual LCEPA meeting in Vientiane yesterday.
The meeting was cochaired by Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), Mr Daovone Phachanthavong and the President of LCEPA, Mr Allan Yang, with Lao and Chinese business operators participating in the event.
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- furniture fair 2019.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
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- Vientiane Timesຕະຫຼາດລາວ-ອົດຊີ-ເອີລົບຢືນຢັນຊື້ຊີ້ນໝູຢູ່ຕະຫຼາດນີ້ປອດພະຍາດ100 ສ່ວນຮ້ອຍ.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- ຕະຫຼາດລາວ-ອົດຊີ-ເອີລົບຢືນຢັນຊື້ຊີ້ນໝູຢູ່ຕະຫຼາດນີ້ປອດພະຍາດ100 ສ່ວນຮ້ອຍ
ພາຍຫຼັງທີ່ໄດ້ເກີດພະຍາດລະບາດໝູຢູ່ປະເທດເພື່ອນບ້ານ ແລະ ມີການພົບພະຍາດດັ່ງກ່າວຈາກ ຊີ້ນໝູ ແລະ ຊິ້ນສ່ວນໝູທີ່ນຳເຂົ້າ, ລັດຖະບານລາວໄດ້ມີການສັ່ງຢຸດການນຳເຂົ້າໝູ, ຊີ້ນໝູ ແລະ ຊິ້ນສ່ວນໝູແລ້ວເພື່ອສະກັດກັ້ນພະຍາດດັ່ງກ່າວບໍ່ໃຫ້ລະບາດຢູ່ໃນລາວ ການພົບເຫັນພະຍາດດັ່ງກ່າວມັນໄດ້ສົ່ງຜົນກະທົບຕໍ່ຜູ້ຂາຍຊີ...
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- Laos, China mark completion of one of railway’s longest tunnels
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Luang Namtha province: Lao and Chinese authorities yesterday marked completion of boring and construction of the Boten tunnel - the first completed among the 10 longest tunnels for the Laos-China railway project.
The 6,453.5 metre-long tunnel is among 10 for the project whose length exceeds 5,000 metres each.
Beginning in March 2017, boring and construction of the Boten tunnel in northern Luang Namtha province was completed seven months ahead of the planned schedule.
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- Govt showcases potential of processed products .
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- The potential of processed agricultural products as income-earners is on full display at the 1st Lao International Food Expo 2019, taking place at Lao-ITECC from March 15-19.
The Expo focuses on exports, especially of goods produced by agro-processing enterprises. In particular, the event is promoting the export of products such as tea, coffee and rice.
“This event is a great opportunity for producers, processing plants, and the makers of community products and beverages to raise brand awareness as well as learn ways to improve product quality,” Acting Director of the Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Mr Xaysompheth Norasing, said.
The Expo is organised by the Trade Promotion Department, the Pas Project Company, and private company sponsors.
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- Vientiane Times
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
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- PM’s prescription for health sector: maintain information campaign .
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has called on health officials countrywide to continue to provide more information to local communities, particularly to improve outcomes for mothers, newborns and children under five.
The premier made the call on Thursday as he addressed the annual Ministry of Health meeting to review progress in the sector and discuss plans for 2019.
The meeting heard that a lack of access to healthcare and information in local communities has a direct impact not only on the health of women and their infants, but also on their sanitary education and economic prospects.
The prime minister’s advice comes amid a focus on disease prevention measures first, with diagnosis and treatment second.
He said limitations in the capacity and knowledge of medical staff also needed to be addressed.
The prime minister noted the Ministry of Health’s existing policies to improve care in local communities with the government’s new health programm...
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- Health sector check-up reveals good progress.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Ministry of Health officials from around the country met for their annual meeting in Vientiane yesterday to review progress in the sector and discuss plans for 2019.
The meeting covered work in hygiene and health promotion, communicable disease prevention and control in target provinces, reduction of the mortality rate in mothers and infants, treatment and rehabilitation, food and drug administration, and improvement of financial planning and budgeting within the health sector.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Health, Associate Prof. Dr Bounkong Syhavong, said the annual meeting helped to strengthen management in local systems and the capacity building and training of health officials, especially village physicians, midwives, specialists and health facilities.
Last year, Laos made remarkable progress in some areas.
The target for reducing the mortality rate of infants and mothers had been met, while there were strides made in food quality assuran...
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- Lao, Vietnamese presidents agree to further strengthen ties
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Laos and Vietnam have agreed to further their great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with the signing of nine cooperation agreements.
The agreements were signed in Vientiane yesterday during a goodwill visit to Laos by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, from February 24-25, in response to an invitation from his Lao counterpart, President Bounnhang Vorachit.
The nine agreements were signed following a bilateral meeting and related to financial cooperation, construction of the Vientiane-Vung Ang railway, and electricity and mines development, while other agreements relevant to cooperation between the two countries were also signed, witnessed by the Lao and Vietnamese presidents.
During the meeting, President Bounnhang welcomed and expressed great appreciation for the goodwill visit to Laos by President Nguyen Phu Trong, and for choosing Laos for his first foreign visit after ta...
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- New Meuang Noy secondary school opens.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- The new Meuang Noy secondary school in Vientiane opened on Thursday with a handover ceremony between Lao and Chinese officials who expressed pleasure that the educational needs of children and the community will continue to be met.
The original school could no longer cope with the increasing number of students each year, so a new two-story building measuring 9 metres by 48.3 metres was built.
It new school covers an area of 900 square metres and cost about 3.8 billion kip (US$450,000).
It was financed by the China Foundation for Peace and Development (China FPD) under the terms of a cooperation agreement with the Lao Committee for Peace and Development (Lao CPD).
Present at the handover ceremony was the President of China FPD, Mr Cao Yun Long, and President of the Lao CPD, Mr Somphanh Phengkhammy.
Also in attendance was the Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union and Vice President of the Lao CPD, Mr Alounxay Sounnalath, who highlighte...
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- Vietnam’s new president chooses to visit Laos first.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, has visited Laos many times but this is his first goodwill visit to Laos since being appointed President.
Now, he is both the General Secretary of the Communist Party and the President of Vietnam.
He was chosen by Vietnam’s National Assembly to be the new leader of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Speaking to Lao media, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung said President Nguyen Phu Trong had chosen to visit Laos before larger countries such as China, the USA, Russia and Japan.
During his goodwill visit to Laos on February 24 and 25, Laos and Vietnam will sign many important agreements to further strengthen their close relationship.
“There is no relationship in the world that can compare with the friendship between Laos and Vietnam,” the Ambassador said, speaking through an interpreter. As testament to this, he pointed out that there are at least 200 songs referring ...
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- Brunei highly value bilateral ties.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Visiting Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah have said they highly value the friendly relations and cooperation between their two countries.
The Lao premier made an official two-day visit to Brunei Darussalam from February 16-17 at the invitation of the Bruneian king.
It was Mr Thongloun’s first visit to Brunei since taking office as Prime Minister in 2016. The visit aimed to enhance the friendly relations and cooperation between the two Southeast Asian countries.
Shortly after an official welcoming ceremony at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace, Prime Minister Thongloun and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah held bilateral talks.
Both sides said they highly valued the growing friendly relations and cooperation between Laos and Brunei which have continually flourished over the past two and a half decades since the two nations established diplomatic ties on July 27, 1993.
Last year, Laos and Brunei marked the 25...
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- Govt to consider corporate suggestions for economic policy.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Prime Minister Thongloun
Sisoulith told the business
sector that the government
will take into consideration
all recommendations and
l e g i t i m a t e c o m m e n t s
from them and the public
before drawing up business
promotion policies.
The premier made the
comment on Wednesday at
the annual meeting of the
Lao National Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
(LNCCI), which also marked
30 years of the founding of
the Chamber.
“The LNCCI has made
numerous remarkable
achievements over the
past three decades due to
the solidarity and unity
among businesspeople
and their bonding with the
government,” he said.
The government and
business sector will now
need stronger cooperation
to drive the nation to a
more prosperous future that
makes it politically and
economically stable, he
added.
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- Visit Laos-China Year 2019 officially launched
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- The governments of Laos and China on Friday officially launched Visit Laos-China Year 2019 in the Lao capital of Vientiane.
President Bounnhang Vorachit and Chinese President Xi Jinping sent congratulatory messages to each other hailing the joint tourism promotion.
Laos’ Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara, and China’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Luo Shugang, delivered the messages from the two presidents at the launch ceremony held at the National Culture Hall.
In the message delivered by Prof. Dr Bosengkham, President Bounnhang, who is also Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, on behalf of the Party and government of the Lao PDR and on his own behalf expressed his delight over Visit Laos-China Year 2019.
President Bounnhang said the joint hosting of Visit Laos-China Year reflected the sound longstanding relations and cooperation between the two neighbours in the s...
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- Lao Food Festival sets taste buds tingling,
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- The annual Lao Food Festival is now taking place at Chao Anouvong Park in Vientiane, featuring a tasty array of local food products, drinks,organic produce and handicrafts.
The four-day event from January 23-26 from 8am to 10pm comprises about 180 stalls set up by Lao and foreign exhibitors, including food vendors from around Laos and their counterparts from other Asean countries and embassies in Laos.
About 140 of the stalls are selling food while 20 have handicrafts and agricultural produce for sale. Another 20 stalls are displaying products from Asean countries and embassies.
The event highlights women’s activities in operating smallholdings, raising animals, and food preparation. It also aims to showcase the country’s culinary traditions and promote them to visitors from other Asean countries and further afield during Visit Laos-China Year 2019.
President of the Lao Women’s Business Association, Mrs Chanthachone Vongsay said the festival aimed to sup...
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- Lao People’s Army marks the 70th anniversary
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- www.vientianetimes.org.la
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- Exchange CEO Mr Vanhkham Voravong addresses yesterday’s news conference.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- LSX has extended its trading hours from 8:30-11:30am at present to 8:30am-3pm with the change part of measures aimed at improving its services in 2019.
LSX CEO Mr Vanhkham Voravong inaugurated the new trading mechanism, including the extension of trading hours, the introduction of new types of orders and block trade and adjustment of the new tick size, at a news conference held at the LSX in Vientiane on Tuesday.
The event also marked the 8th anniversary of the first trading day of the stock exchange.
According to the LSX, the new trading mechanism indicated the continuing development, expansion and strengthening of the Lao capital market as well as improved liquidity and a more favourable environment for investments. The mechanism became effective on January 11.
Mr Vanhkham said the change in trading hours was aimed at meeting the demands of domestic and foreign investors, especially those living in different time zones so they had more opportunities to invest...
- Title
- Hmong community celebrates New Year with traditional festivities
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Provinces across the country have been celebrating the Hmong New Year, known as Boun Kin Chieng, promoting the ethnic group’s cultural traditions to locals and visitors alike.
Hmong New Year festivities also began yesterday at Pheuksa Garden (Suan Pheuksa) in Danxi village, Naxaithong district, Vientiane.
The event was attended by Deputy President of the Lao Front for National Development, Mr Ngiakerya Norchochongtua, President of the Pheuksa Garden Individual Enterprise, Mr Phouvong Phamisith, Governor of Naxaithong district, Mr Vilasack Nammounty, Vientiane authorities, other guests and local Hmong people.
Mr Phouvong told Vientiane Times the festival was taking place at Pheuksa Garden from January 9-13 to publicise Hmong customs.
“We are holding this event here because 60 percent of our staff are Hmong and the Vientiane authorities asked us to stage Boun Kin Chieng activities for visitors,” he said.
“We are holding traditional Hmong ceremonies,...
- Title
- Authorities urged to expedite registration of foreign workers.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Labour officials across the country must expedite the process of registering illegal foreign workers, Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has said.
Authorities in every province have been instructed to speed up the process, to comply with the relevant laws and regulations.
Officials must register foreign workers and issue them with a temporary work permit for every year they work in Laos, Dr Sonexay said.
He made the statement during a recent meeting to review the problem of undocumented foreign workers in Laos.
Prime Minister’s Order No. 62 requires foreign workers to register and provide proof of nationality.
Dr Sonexay acknowledged that many workers had now been registered and issued with temporary work permits, in an attempt to regulate the increasing number of undocumented migrant workers in the country.
He said all illegal foreign workers, who mainly come from Vietnam, China, and Thailand, should go to provincial labour and ...
- Title
- Korea, Asean provide 1,000 tonnes of rice for Lao flood victims.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- The government of the Republic of Korea is continuing its assistance to Laos in the wake of widespread flooding that occurred in many provinces, with Attapeu being the worst affected area.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea reiterated his country’s support for Laos on Friday when 1,000 tonnes of rice from the Asean Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) tier 3 programme, as part of Korea’s contribution to affected communities, was handed over to Lao officials.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mrs Baykham Khattiya, Korean Ambassador Mr Shin Sung-soon, the FAO Representative to Laos, and senior officials from Laos and Korea.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Baykham said “I would like to thank the APTERR authorities, including the Korean government, for providing much-needed aid to flood victims in Laos.”
She noted that the Asean Plus Three rice reserve had played an important role during previous natural disaste...
- Title
- Mystic Mountain Coffee and Homestay brews up perfect recipe for success
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Mystic Mountain Coffee and Homestay is a relatively new community-based tourism venture that is prospering by attracting many visitors to Pakxong district, Champassak province in southern Laos.
In just four years the venue has established itself as a must-see for many American and European travellers to Laos and has been featured in numerous travel guidebooks, magazines, newspapers and online media talking about its amazing programmes.
Mystic Mountain Coffee and Homestay provides many interesting programmes for visitors such as taking a trip to the Laven ethnic group village and visiting a hidden waterfall in Pakxong district by old Jeep, discovering about the area’s history during the Indochina War including bomb craters, as well as learning about Lao culture and coffee growing, cooking and environmental protection.
More on: http://vientianetimes.org.la
Patithin Phetmeuangphuan
- Title
- PM calls for Poverty Reduction Fund to accelerate efforts.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has called on the Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF) to continue to help villagers rise above poverty after learning that a significant number of families remain impoverished.
The premier made the comment yesterday to mark the 15th anniversary of the Fund – the government’s flagship agency in fighting poverty.
He praised the Fund for the hard work it has done over past years by improving the living conditions of people in targeted villages.
The Fund will continue to exist and do its job until all Lao people are free from poverty, Mr Thongloun told local media.
Established by the government and foreign donors in 2003, the Fund has carried out 5,948 poverty-fighting projects in 11 provinces and has benefited more than 1.2 million people, most of them living in the country’s poorest villages.
During the first phase from 2003-2011, projects focused on small-scale infrastructure development and improvement in line with the Nat...
- Title
- Turkey hand over special purpose vehicles.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- repesentatives of the United Nations Development Programme and Turkey last weeked gather with Minister Labour and social welfare Dr Khampheng Saysompheng at a ceremony to hand over special purpose vehicles to the Ministry of Labour and social welfare for use in communities affected by floods.
- Title
- NA session closes with hopes for a brighter future.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- The 6th ordinary session of the National Assembly’s (NA) Eighth Legislature ended on Friday after 23 days of debate and the passing of laws.
The session approved eight draft and amended laws, namely Civil Code, Law on Business Banks, Law on Radiation Safety, Law on Electronic Signature, Law on Railways, Law on Health Insurance, Law on People with Disabilities, and the Law on Lao Government Representative Offices Overseas.
The session also sounded out Assembly members’ opinions on amendments to the Land Law, but they have yet to approve the draft, pointing out the need for further refinement to address all its deficiencies.
The session asked the government to consider the opinions of Assembly members when improving the draft, and to broaden the canvass of public opinion before submitting it to the Assembly’s next ordinary session for debate.
The Assembly approved the government’s midterm report and the 2018 report on the national socio-economic developmen...
- Title
- Health ministry reviews success of post-flood operations in Attapeu.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Health authorities say they have been successful in their efforts to ensure that people affected by the devastating flood in Attapeu province stay healthy.
The Ministry of Health has been successful in the prevention and control of the spread of illness, providing free health checks for displaced people and giving vaccinations to people living in shelters.
This was the central theme of a meeting attended by World Health Organisation Representative to Laos, Dr Mark Jacobs, along with health officials from the ministry and provinces.
Minister of Health Associate Prof. Dr Bounkong Syhavong reported on the ministry’s efforts following a review of the flood response in Attapeu province.
The ministry sent medical equipment and emergency teams to treat people affected by the flood and to prevent and control the spread of illness, he said.
Flood-hit communities had received assistance with healthcare, hygiene and sanitation.
There had been no reports of d...
- Title
- Magic Lao Carpets helps local women to soar
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Each strand of finest silk is carefully and artistically inserted into a pattern by the skilful hands of young women working on vertical looms, and there is an average of 400,000 knots per square metre in these masterpieces from Laos.
The product is the silk carpet from Magic Lao Carpets Handicrafts. Each carpet is handmade and unique, and takes from one month to three years to complete by the young women making each piece priceless.
The owner of Magic Lao Carpets Handicrafts, Mrs Souvita Praseurth, describes each carpet as a masterpiece. “The clients normally have to order and wait because each piece takes some time to produce, but our clients know that.”
It is an artistic product, and not like other normal handicrafts. “We can make about 100 square metres a year, and we cannot do it more because they are handmade and our talented workers can only do a limited amount of work. It is hard to expand the business as it needs skilled workers,” she ...
- Title
- Ethnic groups’ conference promotes contribution to national development .
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Respected representatives
from ethnic groups around
the country and people of
Lao descent living abroad
paid a courtesy visit to
President Bounnhang
Vorachit yesterday before
attending the 3rd National
Ethnic Conference in
Vientiane.
The conference which
opens at the National
Convention Centre today
aims to promote the role
of ethnic groups around
the country in contributing
to national protection and
development.
Before meeting with
President Bounnhang, the
respected representatives
from ethnic groups and
Lao expatriates laid a
wreath at the Unknown
Soldier monument, placed
flower baskets at Kaysone
Phomvihane Museum and
Souphanouvong Museum
as well as visited other
important landmarks in the
capital.
Over 500 respected
representatives from ethnic
groups are attending the
conference t...
- Title
- President urges Lao ethnic people, expatriates to support nation building
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- President Bounnhang Vorachit advised respected representatives from Lao ethnic people and expatriates to continue their support for the country’s development at the 3rd National Ethnic Conference.
The conference held yesterday at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane aimed to promote the role of ethnic groups around the country in contributing to national protection and development with over 500 representatives attending from ethnic groups, people of Lao descent in foreign countries and other respected members of society.
During the conference, President Bounnhang noted the conference as a very important symbol in boosting solidarity between the ethnic groups and all Lao people around the country and abroad and contributing to the nation’s social-economic development.
President Bounnhang also said the Lao Front for National Development was playing a bridging role by connecting respected representatives with the party and state organisations at each level. Th...
- Title
- Region cooperates on avian influenza control
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Health authorities have urged for more cooperation between Laos and neighbouring countries to boost communicable disease control and prevent outbreaks.
That was the message at a workshop yesterday attended by WHO Health Emergency Lead, Dr Reiko Tsuyuoka along with senior officials from the Ministry of Health and invited guests.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health’s Department of Communicable Disease Control (DCDC), Dr Bounhoum Akhavong told the regional Cross Border Desktop Training on Avian Influenza that the workshop was a good opportunity to share lessons learned in implementation of controls against avian influenza along ports of entry with neighbouring countries including working with other related sectors in joint surveillance and response.
He highlighted the risk posed if the virus managed to gets into the body humans and urged the regional workshop to strengthen the understanding of sectors in recognising their clear roles in regards to prep...
- Title
- Dialogue aims to boost Japanese investment climate in Laos,
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Representatives from Laos and Japan yesterday discussed several key issues to improve the investment environment in the country.
Aims of the 12th meeting of the Laos-Japan Public and Private Sectors Joint Dialogues in Vientiane included seeking solutions to problems faced by Japanese businesspeople and investors in Laos, and improving services and project facilitation.
The dialogue was chaired by Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Souphan Keomixay and Ambassador of Japan to Laos Mr Takeshi Hikihara.
Dr Souphan said the discussion was focused on the three main points of establishment and management of representative offices, manufacturing, and logistics.
He said tax officials, Japanese investors and businesspeople would also detail clear steps for implementing tax refunds at the meeting along with exchanging ideas about the use of temporary tax certifications for import procedures and tax exceptions.
Regarding logistics, the conference considered th...
- Title
- A hidden heaven in Pakxong
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- If you want a true taste of heaven in this world, it can be found in the south of Laos in Nongluang village among the hills of Pakxong district in Champassak province.
A day-and-night camp out organised by the local community will take you to earthly perfection at Dan Yai or Dan Nong Luang, atop the Bolaven plateau.
This is still a hidden place and few people know about it. But I was really lucky as I found out about it when I visited a friend’s house and fell into conversation with a tour guide.
So last weekend I and four local friends visited the place for the first time. I was amazed that my friends lived so close but had never been there before.
http://vientianetimes.org.la
Patithin Phetmeuangphuan
- Title
- Vientiane TimesLaos, Cambodia agree to deepen ties, resolve border dispute.
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Hun Sen agreed yesterday in Vientiane to work together to deepen bilateral ties and resolve border disputes between the two neighbours.
The Cambodian prime minister is in Laos on December 5-6 for an official visit at the invitation from PM Thongloun.
Both sides reaffirmed their intention to enhance the long-standing friendly relations, cooperation and solidarity between the two countries in the spirit of mutual respect and interests, Premier Thongloun told a press conference shortly after the bilateral talks between the heads of the two governments.
The two prime ministers witnessed the signing of four cooperation agreements. They are a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on art and culture cooperation for 2019-2021, a cooperation agreement on education for 2019-2023, and a cooperation MOU in which Laos will send raised elephants to perform at a zoo in Phnom Penh. Another cooperati
on MOU wil...
- Title
- Tasty turtles a treat for gourmets
- Date posted
- 5 years ago
- Description
- Laos is known for unique and delicious cuisine and some Vientiane folk drool about farm-bred soft shell turtles, locally known as pafa, which are prized as mouth-watering additions to hotpot soup.
This species is not commonly sold in markets because breeders struggle to produce sufficient numbers of these aquatic dwellers to meet customer demand.
In some Vientiane markets, the turtles are sold in plastic bowls with customers bargaining with traders in the hope of getting a discount.
And with a one-kilogram turtle costing 280,000 kip, customers are keen to extract a reduction but most have to make do with only a 10,000 or 20,000 kip discount. Not surprisingly, some pass up on a purchase when informed of the price.
Some well-heeled folk also buy the turtles to keep in their gardens as they believe the creatures will bring good fortune and wealth. But for others, the turtles are carefully nurtured in preparation for adding to the household menu on a special o...