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Joining Hands To Embark on A New Journey of International Mountain Tourism, The IMTA Annual Conference 2024 Successfully Held


BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 October 2024 – On September 26, the IMTA Annual Conference 2024 opened in Xingyi, Guizhou Province. With the theme of “Inclusiveness, Mutual Learning, Innovation—Empowering Sustainable Mountain Tourism with New Quality Productive Forces”, the conference pooled wisdom and strength from across the industry to discuss and share innovative development paths for high-quality and sustainable mountain tourism in the context of the new era, with a particular emphasis on empowering the sector through new productive forces.

Empower
ed by the Time: Mountain Tourism Unveils a new look

“The Annual Conference of the International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA) is not only a grand event for our members, but also a significant exchange and cooperation platform for our members and the mountain tourism industry,” said Dominique de Villepin, Chairman of the IMTA, in a video message that officially kicked off the event.

The development of IMTA has always been closely stuck to the themes of the time and the market demand. With the accelerated recovery of the tourism industry and the proposal and implementation of the concept of “new productive forces “, the principle of “Inclusiveness, Mutual Learning, and Innovation” has become the core driving force behind global sustainable tourism development. Mountain tourism, in particular, is witnessing new growth opportunities, presenting fresh challenges and expectations for the alliance’s work.

De Villepin emphasized that the year 2024 marks a pivotal transition for the tourism industry from recovery to sustainable prosperity,,as a result, mountain tourism is exhibiting new characteristics: a burgeoning market demand for intelligent tourism, prominent characteristics of leisure tourism, and deep integration that gives birth to new business forms. He suggested that, to confront future transformations and challenges, a multidimensional and in-depth analysis of industry trends is essential to navigating future challenges more effectively. It is imperative for governments, businesses and all walks of life to collaborate in refining policies, improving the environment and enhancing services to address the current challenges and problems faced by international tourism. This aligns with IMTA’s initiative in creating international dialogue platforms, such as the IMTA Annual Conference, International Mountain Tourism Day and the Asian Mountain Tourism Promotion Conference.

He Yafei, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of IMTA, pointed out that, the data from United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism now) showed that global tourism revenue reached $1.6 trillion in 2023, with international tourist numbers recovering to 90% of 2019. The new era is shaping a fresh landscape of global tourism. IMTA has embraced an open-minded and inclusive approach, promoting mutual learning and respect for diverse civilizations and cultures. By accelerating the integration of culture, education, science, and tourism, the IMTA continues to innovate and drive the sustainable development of new models in global mountain tourism.

Over the past year, IMTA has consistently organized mountain tourism-themed activities, creating a robust platform for exploring opportunities and trends in mountain tourism development. These initiatives have facilitated the exchange and cooperation among members, governments, and industry stakeholders, achieving remarkable results that are widely recognized.

Pansy Ho, IMTA Vice Chairman, remarked that, the intensification of climate change impacts on the ecological environment, the reorganization of the global supply chain, and the acceleration of technological progress are reshaping people’s lifestyles and industrial structures. As a result, promoting the sustainable development of sustainable mountain is not only about discovering new drivers for economic growth, but also about taking on the social responsibility of protecting the ecology, promoting cultural exchanges and boosting the revitalization of local economies. IMTA has upheld the concept of “ecological priority, green development, unity and collaboration, mutual benefit and win-win” since its establishment, leveraging its robust membership network and industry resources to actively promote the innovative use of mountain resources, the preservation of cultural heritage and the development of regional economies, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the global tourism industry..

Ongoing Innovation: IMTA Has Achieved Fruitful Results

Fu Yingchun, Vice Chairman and Executive Secretary-General of the IMTA, provided a summary of IMTA’s achievements in 2024 and outlined the key objectives for 2025. He noted that under the new development context, IMTA has, since the beginning of this year, capitalized on its professional strengths and platform advantages. By collaborating closely with alliance members and industry partners, IMTA has integrated itself into the framework of mountain tourism governance. Its international reputation and influence have steadily increased, business cooperation opportunities have expanded, and overall operations have yielded new results.

The “Integrated Mountain Tourism” platform system created by IMTA has maintained a steady growth trajectory. Among its three core platforms—the International Mountain Tourism Day, the Annual Conference Forum, and the Asian Mountain Tourism Promotion Conference—each has demonstrated renewed vitality and dynamism.

At the event, He Yafei officially awarded the host city of “International Mountain Tourism Day 2025.” to Gran Canaria, Spain. Gran Canaria, a well-known tourist destination, attracts visitors with its beaches, pleasant climate, sunshine, and natural scenery. In recent years, with the rise of mountain tourism, the island has developed a rich array of mountain tourism offerings, continuing its international positioning in tourism exchange and cooperation. When mountains meet oceans,the landscapes add new excitement for next year’s “International Mountain Tourism Day.”

The “International Mountain Tourism Day” is a standout achievement in the IMTA’s brand-building efforts. In May 2024, the event was successfully held in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France, marking the alliance’s first international event in Europe. It aligned with the global trend of sustainable development and resonated with the theme of building a mountain tourism community with a shared future, garnering widespread attention from the industry. One of the key highlights was the forum on “Climate Change and Responses for Mountain Tourism,” where participants conducted in-depth discussions on the challenges brought by climate change to mountain and ice and snow tourism, and the response strategies for sustainable tourism and climate change, and put forward forward-looking and guiding opinions and solutions. On this basis, the forum led to the creation of Mountian Tourism Destinantions Responding to Climate Change, which was released at the opening ceremony of the International Mountain Tourism and Outdoor Sports Conference.

During the report’s release, Francesco Frangialli, former Honorary Secretary-General of the UNWTO (UN Tourism now) and IMTA board member, emphasized that the technical publication combines scientific evidence with practical experience from tourism professionals and mountain communities. Through this research, the IMTA has contributed to the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

At the opening ceremony, the Certification Criteria of World Famous Tourism Mountains was also released. with the first 14 certified sites, including Jungfrau in Switzezrland, Annapurna in Nepal, Table Mountain in South Africa, and Changbai Mountain in China, were recognized as “the World Famous Tourism Mountains”. Wu Bihu, director of the Center for Retreation and Tourism Research and an IMTA expert, stated that the recognition of these world-famous mountains will further promote the protection and utilization of mountain tourism resources and actively contribute to the establishment of a global mountain tourism governance system. Besides, the development of the alliance’s standards and evaluation systems has taken a significant step forward.

At the event, plaques were also awarded to three newly certified “IMTA International Mountain Hiking Demonstration Routes”, including Hengshan Part (in Hunan Province), Hengshan Part (in Shanxi Province), and Songshan Part (in Henan Province), which are the parts of the renowned Hiking Routes of Five Sacred Mountains. International Mountain Hiking Tourism Guide was organized by IMTA experts and supported by the European Ramblers Association, French Hiking Federation, and Federazione Italiana Escursionismo.. Since its release, the guide has received high praise and broad recognition from the industry. Based on this guide, IMTA has selected 19 hiking routes around the world, promoting the design and development of world-class hiking tourism products and setting a benchmark for the high-quality development of hiking tourism.

Building Strength: Joining Hands for Sustainable Prosperity

During the event, IMTA Council has agreed to build a IMTA liaison office in Xingyi City.. Qian Zhenghao, Standing Committee Member of the Qianxinan Prefecture Committee and Executive Deputy Governor of the People’s Government of Qianxinan Prefecture, and Fu Yingchun,IMTA Vice Chairman and Executive Secretary-General jointly unveiled the IMTA liaison office in Xingyi City.. Xingyi, rich in mountain tourism resources with outstanding geographical and cultural advantages, has extensive experience in hosting international conferences. As the birthplace of IMTA, the establishment of the liaison office will help to gather development momentum and strengthen the cohesion of the alliance.

To pool the wisdom of the industry and scientifically grasp the trends of mountain tourism, The IMTA Expert Committee was officially established in 2020, consisting of 24 experts and scholars with extensive academic expertise and rich industry experience. During the event, Geoffrey Lipman, former President of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), and former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism now), Zhang Xilong, Executive Vice President of the Integrated Development Branch of the China Communications and Transportation Association former Deputy Director-General and First Class Inspector of the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Jin Zhun, Secretary-General of the Tourism Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Takashi Moriya, former Chairman of Nicchu Peace Travel Service Co., Ltd., Wang Xiaoyu, a special researcher at the Tourism Research Center of CASS, Bernard Debarbieux, Professor and former Dean of Social Sciences at the University of Geneva, Rogers Martin Valencia Espinosa, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism and former Minister of Tourism and Culture of Peru, and Chairman of the Cusco Economic Research Institute, Li Shouwen, Executive Chairman President of China International Camping Congress; and Xiao Gang, Chief Chinese Representative of the International Nordic Walking Federation (INWA), all joined the IMTA Expert Committee. Their contributions will provide intellectual and technical support for the future development of mountain tourism.

IMTA also awarded certificates to 11 new members who joined IMTA this year, including the Chungcheongnam-do Tourism Association of South Korea, Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal, and Turismo de Aragón (Spain). These additions have strengthened industry connections, further expanding the “international family” of IMTA. Currently, IMTA has a total of 199 institutional and individual members, including 118 domestic members and 81 international members.

Since its establishment, IMTA has successfully navigated a seven-year journey, and played a unique role in contributing to and promoting the sustainable development of global mountain tourism. 2024 marks a pivotal year as the tourism industry transitions from recovery to sustainable prosperity. Against this backdrop, the Annual Conference 2024 aims to provide new impetus for high-quality and sustainable mountain tourism development through the principles of “Inclusiveness, Mutual Learning, and Innovation.”
Hashtag: #Pinchain

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French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Nam Theun 2 Inaugurate Centre for Environmental Research, Education

Photo supplied

The French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) and Nam Theun 2 Power Company celebrated the grand opening of the International Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CIREN) in Nakai district, Khammouane Province. The event was attended by government officials, environmental experts, community representatives, and international partners.

CIREN will serve as a hub for research, education, and capacity building in environmental conservation. It will focus on equipping local students with the knowledge and skills needed to address environmental challenges and contribute to the sustainable management of natural resources.

“The facility currently includes a fully equipped and operational biology laboratory, featuring state-of-the-art benches, microscopes, laminar flow hoods, and centrifuges, among other essential equipment. This laboratory is specialized for microscopic and molecular biology analyses, which are crucial for research on environmental, animal, and human health. In the near future, we plan to expand the laboratory to include a dedicated space for the reception and preservation of biological samples, as well as a teaching room equipped with pedagogical facilities. This development will further enhance our capacity to conduct critical research and training initiatives,” said Sabrina Locatelli, IRD Country Representative.

In his opening remarks, Nam Theun 2 CEO Marc-Antoine Rupp expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the establishment of CIREN. He highlighted the project’s significance in promoting localized scientific research, which will in turn benefit the study of the area’s rich biodiversity.

“CIREN represents a milestone in our commitment to conservation and education. Through collaboration with the IRD and Nakai Nam Theun National Park, we aim to create a local model for sustainable development in Laos,” Rupp said.

The center’s location in proximity to the Nakai Nam Theun National Park provides a unique opportunity for hands-on learning and research in a diverse and ecologically important area.

Rupp also called upon all stakeholders to join forces in supporting CIREN’s mission. 

“By working together, we can strengthen Laos’ scientific community and learn more about the country’s rich biodiversity,” he said.

“Today marks a significant milestone in the collaboration among various sectors to enhance science and technology cooperation in Laos. This is evident in the establishment of the International Centre for Environmental Research and Education, which will serve as a training center for scientists and students, as well as a research hub to provide information to the communities. On behalf of the Ministry of Education and Sports and all Lao sectors, I hope that we will continue to collaborate in scientific research and organize joint activities,” Phout Simmalavong, Minister of Education and Sports.

Vang Vieng Tourist Numbers Increases Amid Infrastructure Upgrade

Vang Vieng (Photo credit: Novo-monde)

As of October, Vang Vieng has welcomed over 900,000 tourists, exceeding its target of 800,000. This includes more than 400,000 foreign visitors, according to Vang Vieng district Governor Bounchan Malavong, who spoke on TV with the Lao National Radio (LNR) on 21 October.

Aleta Planet Partners with Know Your Customer to streamline onboarding processes for global business partners


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 October 2024 – Aleta Planet, a leading global payments solution provider, announced a strategic partnership with Know Your Customer, an award-winning regulatory technology software as a service (SaaS) company, to streamline and simplify compliance and onboarding processes for businesses worldwide.

As a global payments provider serving over 140 countries, Aleta Planet is committed to maintaining the highest regulatory standards across its worldwide operations. The company’s certified platform enables businesses to collect international payments from global customers and make global payments, enabling growth and new revenue opportunities. Aleta Planet specialises in helping companies scale globally.

Know Your Customer’s real-time registry data and smart automation solutions will enable Aleta Planet to strengthen its anti-money laundering (AML), business know your customer (KYC) and Know Your Business workflows. Offering the widest coverage of direct connections to over 140 company registries globally, Know Your Customer’s platform will help Aleta Planet access 100% accurate, official data to support its compliance requirements.

Through this collaboration, the company will leverage Know Your Customer’s innovative compliance solutions to digitise and automate its business KYC processes.

Ella Mak, Head of Legal and Compliance at Aleta Planet, said: “Providing a seamless onboarding experience while ensuring accurate and robust compliance is critical to supporting the growth of our global merchant base.

“By integrating Know Your Customer’s cutting-edge RegTech solution, we can simplify these complex processes, obtain accurate and real-time company data, and empower businesses to expand their cross-border payment capabilities with confidence.”

Claus Christensen, CEO and Co-Founder of Know Your Customer, said: “We are excited to partner with Aleta Planet, a leader in the international payments industry. Our solutions will help Aleta Planet provide its global merchant base with a more streamlined onboarding journey, allowing them to focus on growing their businesses while meeting rigorous regulatory standards.”

The partnership between Aleta Planet and Know Your Customer reinforces their shared commitment to drive innovation and compliance within the payment ecosystem. Through the combined expertise, the two companies aim to enhance the overall compliance and onboarding experience for businesses seeking seamless cross-border payment solutions.Hashtag: #aletaplanet #knowyourcustomer

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About Aleta Planet

Founded in 2014 in Singapore, Aleta Planet is an award-winning global payments solution provider that simplifies online, cross-border and multi-currency transactions safely, securely and efficiently. They are a holistic payments technology provider of merchant acquisition, card issuance, remittance and B2B payments. As a global payment facilitator that interconnects different payment options and types, Aleta Planet specialises in helping Chinese companies to scale the global market. Aleta Planet is licensed in Singapore by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a Major Payment Institution and in other jurisdictions, with offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Australia and Malaysia. Its secure and internationally certified proprietary platform connects businesses to the world’s payment infrastructure through one Application Programming Interface, enabling business growth, greater customer engagement and new revenue opportunities.

The success of its card network-agnostic platform has also garnered Aleta Planet its operating licenses from card networks including Diners Club, Discover Network, JCB, MasterCard, Union Pay International, Visa, SWIFT and other Alternative Payment Methods. Furthermore, Aleta Planet’s broad network enables individuals and businesses to deposit local currencies in 39 countries or remit funds to 140 countries.

For more information, please visit: or follow Aleta Planet on .

About Know Your Customer

Know Your Customer is an award-winning RegTech company specialised in next generation business verification solutions for financial institutions and regulated organisations worldwide.

For teams that are struggling with inefficient client due diligence and onboarding processes, Know Your Customer provides a modular compliance solution that combines the most intuitive digital workspace on the market with unmatched real-time registry data, seamless integrations and smart automation to transform the essence of the compliance function at its core. The products’ modular design enables efficient customisation, as clients can select and implement only the functionalities they really need, all available via Rest API.

For more information visit or follow Know Your Customer on or .

Email: marketing@knowyourcustomer.com
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Hong Kong Life Announces Sponsorship of Hubert Wu x James Ng “GROW WITH THE FLOW Concert”


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 October 2024 – Hong Kong Life announces the sponsorship of the “GROW WITH THE FLOW Concert”, presenting by two talented singers, Hubert Wu (胡鴻鈞) and James Ng (吳業坤, 坤哥). The concert, themed “GROW WITH THE FLOW” symbolizes the years of growth and challenges that Hubert Wu and James Ng have faced together in their music careers, the experiences accumulated and the efforts to achieve their goals. This theme aligns perfectly with Hong Kong Life’s mission. Rooted in Hong Kong for 23 years, Hong Kong Life is committed to providing quality insurance products and services, offering maximum protection and support to every customer as they navigate various opportunities and challenges in life, working together to achieve a more prosperous future.

The press conference for Hubert Wu x James Ng
The press conference for Hubert Wu x James Ng “GROW WITH THE FLOW Concert” was held recently at Citywalk Phase 1 of Tsuen Wan.

Hubert Wu and James Ng entered the entertainment industry together through a singing competition, experiencing highs and lows along the way. After 14 years, they will hold their first concert together. The “GROW WITH THE FLOW Concert” in Hong Kong, organized by Sum Supreme Media (森立演藝) and Myth Media Entertainment Limited (天人集團), and sponsored by Hong Kong Life, will take place on December 8, 2024 (Sunday) at the MacPherson Stadium. Since their debut, both artists have had a significant fanbase that enjoys their performances together. Last year, their rendition of the classic song 《友共情》(“Friendship and Love”) by Leo Ku (古巨基) for the theme song of the TV series《廉政狙擊》received an enthusiastic response, reigniting calls from fans for a joint performance. The two artists and the organizing team have heard the fans’ voices, and after various discussions, they are launching the “GROW WITH THE FLOW Concert” in Hong Kong, marking the first time they will perform together under the name Hubert Wu x James Ng. With just over a month remaining until the concert, Hubert Wu and James Ng, along with the production team, are closely preparing for the performance, aiming to surprise the audience with the setlist, visuals, costumes, and flow, allowing fans to experience their unchanging “Friendship and Love” after 14 years.

The press conference for the “GROW WITH THE FLOW Concert” was held recently at Citywalk Phase 1 of Tsuen Wan. Many fans of Hubert Wu and James Ng attended to show their support, and reporters were present for interviews, creating a bustling atmosphere. Both artists not only shared their feelings about participating in the concert but also interacted with the audience through games and gave away signed posters, elevating the excitement of the event.

Mr. Jonathan Ko, Chief Marketing Officer of Hong Kong Life, stated: “Hong Kong Life is pleased to be the sponsor of the ‘GROW WITH THE FLOW Concert’ allowing more music lovers to enjoy this wonderful performance. The theme of this concert, ‘GROW WITH THE FLOW’ embodies the positive energy of overcoming challenges and striving for goals, just as Hong Kong Life is committed to accompanying our customers through every stage of life and working towards a more prosperous future. At the same time, we hope to enrich the lives of the public by sponsoring and supporting various arts and cultural activities, fostering community strength, and promoting the development of local arts and culture. Hong Kong Life will soon launch promotions and activities related to this concert, and we invite everyone to keep an eye on Hong Kong Life’s official Facebook page for the latest updates.”

Hong Kong Life’s Facebook official page: https://www.facebook.com/hklifeinsurance

Hashtag: #香港人壽 #HKLife #HubertWu #JamesNg




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About Hong Kong Life

Established in 2001, Hong Kong Life Insurance Limited (“Hong Kong Life”) was founded by five local financial institutions including Asia Insurance Company Limited, Chong Hing Bank Limited, CMB Wing Lung Bank Limited, OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited, which laid their foundations and have been serving people in Hong Kong for more than 50 years in average. Through our extensive network of around 130 distribution points comprising Chong Hing Bank, CMB Wing Lung Bank, OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) and Shanghai Commercial Bank, we offer an integrated one-stop service of insurance and financial planning to customers.

OPPO Leads AI Innovation with World’s First On-Device MoE Implementation, Paving Way for AI Advancements


SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 October 2024 – Global leading smart device brand OPPO has achieved a significant breakthrough by becoming the first company to implement the Mixture of Experts (MoE) architecture on-device. This milestone enhances AI processing efficiency, opens new possibilities for more advanced and flexible on-device AI, laying the groundwork for future innovations in AI’s integration with mobile hardware.

OPPO infoG EN FA

As AI technology continues to evolve, more tasks are being performed on-device. However, large AI models require substantial computational power, which can impact performance, especially on devices with limited hardware resources. In response, OPPO has collaborated with leading chipset providers to implement the MoE architecture on-device to overcome these limitations.

The MoE architecture dynamically activates specialized sub-models (“experts”) to handle specific tasks, thereby significantly improving processing efficiency and cutting down computing and data transfer consumption. Lab tests reveal that on-device MoE architecture accelerates AI task speeds by approximately 40%, reducing resource demands and improving energy efficiency. This means faster AI responses, longer battery life and enhanced privacy as more tasks are handled locally on the device.

OPPO’s implementation of the MoE architecture on-device is a breakthrough that highlights its advancement in AI innovation. By lowering AI’s computational costs, MoE allows more devices-ranging from flagship to affordable devices-to perform complex AI tasks, accelerating AI’s adoption across the industry. As a result, The MoE architecture on-device opens new opportunities for the industry to make advanced AI capabilities more accessible to a wider audience.

Looking ahead, OPPO remains committed to advancing AI technology and making it available to more users. With over 5,860 patent applications in the AI field, OPPO continues to invest heavily in AI R&D. The establishment of OPPO’s AI Center in 2024 serves as a key step in consolidating its AI research efforts, furthering the company’s mission to provide high-quality AI experiences to users worldwide. Through continued research like MoE and the global rollout of AI-powered features across its smartphone lineup, OPPO aims to extend high-quality AI experiences to a broader audience, ensuring that AI technology becomes more accessible to users across its device categories.

Hashtag: #OPPO

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About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone – “Smiley Face” – in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services. OPPO has footprints in more than 70 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

Chinese, Lao Presidents Discuss Bilateral Cooperation at BRICS Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, Kazan, Russia, (Photo: Xinhua)

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kazan for the 16th BRICS Summit and met with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith on the evening of 22 October. During their discussion, Xi emphasized the importance of enhancing Belt and Road cooperation and developing the China-Laos Railway and Economic Corridor. He praised the successful trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries over the past year.

Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to being a reliable partner for Laos, expressing readiness to import more agricultural products and promote educational exchanges. He congratulated Laos on hosting the ASEAN Summit meetings and welcomed its participation in BRICS.

In response, Thongloun Sisoulith highlighted the strong historical ties between the nations and the effective implementation of their shared action plan. He reiterated Laos’ support for China’s core interests and expressed a desire to advance bilateral projects and multilateral cooperation.

Thongloun also thanked China for its support in hosting the East Asian Leaders’ meetings and expressed Laos’ willingness to continue close cooperation with China within ASEAN and other multilateral platforms.

Food From Russia Feeds School Children in Flood-Impacted Areas

Russian Ambassador Vladimir Kalinin handed over 47 metric tons of cooking oil to the Ministry of Education and Sports. (Photo: World Food Program Laos)

Russian Ambassador Vladimir Kalinin handed over 47 metric tons of cooking oil to the Ministry of Education and Sports at the United Nations World Food Program’s (WFP) warehouse in Vientiane on 22 October. The oil will be used to cook lunch for primary school students in 12 districts of Luang Namtha and Phongsaly provinces, many of which were impacted by the recent floods. 

The shipment of 3,400 boxes, each containing 15 bottles of fortified vegetable oil, is part of a larger donation from Russia to school meals in Laos, including also canned fish, with a total contribution value of USD 2 million. The food commodities are arriving to Laos in two shipments, and distribution to schools will begin at the start of the next academic semester. 

Since 2018, Russia has been a partner of WFP, supporting the Lao government’s work in community resilience building and school meals. 

“This food donation for children in schools in rural areas of Laos is going hand-in-hand with Russia’s ongoing systems strengthening and capacity building support to school meals in four northern provinces of the country. We believe that access to a daily healthy meal in schools is a good way to counter malnutrition on scale and create a strong workforce for the future,” said Russian Ambassador to Laos, Vladimir Kalinin. 

bottles of fortified vegetable oil, is part of a larger donation from Russia to school meals in Laos. (Photo: World Food Program Laos)

Malnutrition continues to be a pressing public health challenge in Laos, particularly affecting children and vulnerable populations. Recent reports indicate that approximately 33 percent of children under five years old are stunted, reflecting chronic malnutrition that hampers their growth and development. Additionally, around 8 percent of children in the same age group suffer from wasting, a severe condition resulting from acute food scarcity. 

“School meals play a vital role in keeping children in school, because they take pressure off families who are struggling to put enough healthy food on the table. This is all the more important in the communities who were hit by the recent floods, losing their food stocks and their next harvest. The food donations from Russia also help the National School Lunch Program of the Government of Laos continue in areas that are challenged by high malnutrition rates and seasonal food insecurity,” said Marc-André Prost, WFP Representative and Country Director. 

Since 2002, the Government of Laos has been building a system of school nutrition, with support from many partners. With its help, the country has made significant progress in improving education outcomes while addressing malnutrition. By allocating national funding to the program and by joining the international School Meals Coalition, Laos is now entering a phase of consolidation of its school meals programs, with the help of expertise and resources from over 100 countries globally.