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Laos Expresses Concern Over North Korea Nuclear Program

North Korea Nuclear Program

A senior Lao diplomat has expressed grave concern over North Korea’s recent test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, and joined concerned nations in calling on Pyongyang to end its nuclear missile programs.

Deputy Foreign Minister Khamphao Ernthavanh also stated that she hoped the situation on the Korean Peninsula could be resolved through peaceful negotiations.

Khamphao Ernthavanh

“Laos sees this as a concerning matter. We hope North Korea abandons its nuclear and missile development and that the Korean Peninsula will be denuclearized through talks as soon as possible.”

Deputy Minister Ernthavanh made the statement on Thursday when interviewed by South Korean journalists.

“If the situtation becomes more serious, it could inflict huge damage not just on the Korean people but also those in the ASEAN region,” she went on. “I personally hope that things will be resolved peacefully through talks.”

The comment came after North Korea announced that it had conducted an ICBM test.

While Laos has enjoyed long and close relations with North Korea, establishing diplomatic ties and opening an embassy in 1974, the country has joined the international community in expressing concern over nuclear missile tests.

When asked if Laos will take steps to restrict North Korea from sending its workers to the country in accordance with UN resolutions, the minister said responded in the affirmative.

“As a UN member, Laos has an obligation to enforce UN resolutions,” she said, “so we will make efforts to excecute such measures in cooperation with the international community.”

Source: Korea Herald

New Lao National Museum Building Officially Complete

Lao National Museum

Construction of the new site of the Lao National Museum has been completed. A handover ceremony was held on 1 December at the site of the new museum, presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Sonxay Siphandone.

The construction project for the new Lao National Museum began in 2013 at the site located on Kaysone Phomvihane Road, in Saysettha District, Vientiane Capital. Construction was undertaken by Khamphayxana Construction.

The new, four storey museum building replaces the original building on Samsenthai Road in central Vientiane. The original building was constructed in 1925, and was built as the French governor’s residence.

The Fate of the Original Lao National Museum Building

Original Lao National Museum

The fate of the original building remains unknown, although a 2013 article by the Vientiane Times states that both the original National Library building and the original museum site are slated for redevelopment.

Photos: Lao Post

Russia Becomes 11th Country to Offer VISA Exemptions to Lao Nationals

Prime Ministers Sisoulith and Medvedev shakes hands
Prime Ministers Sisoulith and Medvedev shakes hands

In an attempt to promote tourism in their respective countries, Laos and Russia have enacted a VISA exemption for their ordinary passport holding (as opposed to service and diplomatic types) citizens, starting on the 2nd of December. This agreement, however, had been signed by Prime Ministers Dmitry Medvedev and Thongloun Sisoulith during Laos’s reign as ASEAN chair back in 2016, and was one of the cornerstone accomplishments of the Russian Prime Minister’s visit.

The agreement permits ordinary passport holders of both countries to enter each other’s country for up to 30 days without an entry visa. With regard to traveling, Lao citizens can now treat Russia as they would any other ASEAN country.

During any period of 180 days, ordinary passport holders from either country may stay in the other country for a maximum of 90 days with multiple entries. Each entry must not exceed 30 days, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith meets with Russian counterpart Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the 2017 ASEAN Summit, Manila
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith meets with Russian counterpart Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the 2017 ASEAN Summit, Manila

With the addition of Russia as a bilateral VISA exempt partner, Laos currently has visa exemption agreements with a total of 11 countries, namely Mongolia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Laos currently offers unilateral visa exemptions to ordinary passport holders from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland and Luxembourg. Nationals of these aforementioned countries with ordinary passports can enter Laos without entry visas.

Laos is beginning to see more and more Russian nationals traveling to Laos for leisure purposes. According to the Lao Tourism Ministry, approximately 13,000 Russians visit Laos per year.

China Southern Airlines Opens Vientiane-Guangzhou Flight

China-Southern-Airlines-Vientiane-Guangzhou

China Southern Airlines has officially launched its Vientiane – Guangzhou flight, which is hoped will bring greater numbers of tourists to both cities.

The flight was launched on November 29.

Deputy General Manager of China Southern Airlines in Bangkok, Zhao Yang, said that 160-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft will fly the Vientiane-Guangzhou route on Wednesdays, Friday’s and Sundays. The flight lasts 2 hours and 25 minutes.

The launch of the flight coincides with Visit Laos Year 2018, and it is hoped that Chinese tourists from Guangzhou will take advantage of the new route to visit Laos. A possible Visit Laos-China Year may even be held in 2019.

China Southern Airlines is the world’s fourth largest airline.

Thai Border Officials Get Tough on Borrowed Vehicles

Thai-Border-Crossing-Restricts-Borrowed-Cars

Thai authorities at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge border crossing are cracking down on borrowed vehicles.

According to a sign recently erected at the bridge, from 1 January 2018, any vehicle crossing into Thailand from Laos that is driven by an individual who is not the vehicle’s owner must provide documentation authorizing use of the vehicle.

Thai border sign borrowed vehicles

Documentation required will include a power of attorney signed by the owner of the vehicle, and the following supporting documentation:

1. A copy of vehicle registration documents

2. A copy of the identification card of the vehicle owner

3. A copy of the idenification card of the person using the vehicle

Further documentation will be required for persons using vehicles belonging to a business or organization.

The new regulations come on the heels of Thai authorities’ new “ASEAN Road Toll,” which imposes a fee upon foreign vehicles entering the country and using its roads.

On top of this, the Thai immigration authorities imposed new visa restrictions on foreigners from many nations entering the country by land last year, limiting the number of crossings available to only twice per year.

Photo: Facebook

BREAKING: Fire at World Trade Center

Fire at World Trade Center
Fire at World Trade Center

Dec 3 – A severe fire has broken out at the World Trade Center site near Kouvieng, Vientiane Capital. Firefighters are on the scene, based on eyewitness accounts, however the fire has made heavy damage to a major section of the unfinished shopping complex-to-be. The area affected is directly opposite the popular Vientiane Center Shopping Mall.

Vientiane Water Utility Issues Public Announcement

Vientiane State Water Supply Enterprise
Vientiane State Water Supply Enterprise

Nov 30 – In response to shortfalls in revenue, the Vientiane State Water Supply Enterprise’s (VSWSE) issued an announcement to the general public, urging non paying customers to settle their water bills and mandatory water pipe checks.

The announcement, signed by Director-General Khampheuy Vongsakhamphuy, stated that the utility company would cut off water supply to those entities that have not paid their water bills in over two months.

The announcement also encouraged water users to cooperate with VSWSE employees who have been sent to perform routine water pipe inspections to ensure there are no leaks and no illegal water usages (bypassing official water meters).

Should anyone have concerns about the announcement, please call the VSWSE hotline at 1169.

Vientiane State Water Supply Enterprise Announcement
Vientiane State Water Supply Enterprise Announcement (Lao Language)

Source: Laopost.com

Dec 2 National Day Celebrations – Past & Present

Dec 2 Fireworks Celebrations
Dec 2 Fireworks Celebrations

If you’ve ever wondered what the Dec 2 National Day Celebrations looked like in Laos, here’s a video clip of the past spectacular displays of fireworks that the country had to offer. Brilliant!