The Japanese government donated USD 63,000 to build a fence and install outdoor lights at the Lao-Japan Friendship Cherry Blossom Garden at a ceremony in Viengxay District, Houaphanh province on Tuesday.
The security measures will be tightened to prevent animals from bypassing a weak fence and damaging the Cherry Blossom trees and intruders from breaking in to steal them.
According to Mr. Kobayashi Kenichi, the Japanese ambassador to Laos, this assistance is a new step towards further improving the long-standing friendship between Japan and Laos.
Mr. Vanxay Phengsoumma, the Governor of Houaphanh Province, expressed his gratitude for Japan’s consistent contributions to the socio-economic development of the province. He emphasized the importance of this assistance, saying that it would play a pivotal role in attracting more tourists to visit the region.
Houaphanh province has benefited from various forms of support from the Japanese government, including the inception of the Cherry Blossom Garden, which has evolved into a symbol of the enduring friendship between Laos and Japan, contributing to tourism development and scientific research opportunities for local children.
Over the past five years, Japan’s support to Houaphanh Province has surpassed USD 730,000, spanning various sectors, including education, public health, agriculture, and water supply.
Cherry Blossom was designated as Houaphanh’s provincial flower time in December 2022, and 150 cherry blossom trees were planted by the governments of Laos and Japan on January 25 of this year to strengthen relations between Laos and Japan.
