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Laos and Vietnam Bolster Ties on Shared Border

Lao-Vietnam Border

During a conference between the Attapeu and Sekong province chapters of the Lao Front for National Construction and the Kon Tum chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front on November 16, both countries reached a consensus on maintaining efforts to build a Vietnam-Laos borderline of peace, friendship and cooperation.

Speaking at the conference, an official of the Vietnam Fatherland Front urged the three provinces’ front organisations to continue coordinating seamlessly in an effort to enhance close cooperation in the implementation of the Vietnam-Laos borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation agreement and development during 2017-2020.

Participants at the event agreed to routinely exchange information and experiences in front work, continue promoting the bilateral friendship and solidarity among local people, particularly those in border districts, and encourage locals to get involved in maintaining security and order in border areas.

Vietnam pledged to coordinate with relevant agencies and businesses in organizing market-days in border areas to introduce its products to Lao locals.

The Attapeu and Sekong provinces shares a 142km border with  Vietnam’s Kon Tum province.

China Invests in Lao Students

With China and Laos’ bilateral ties proving to be stronger than ever, China has opened its borders to hundreds of Lao students through scholarships, giving Lao youths the chance to experience China’s culture, education and development first-hand.

Over 1,300 Lao students have been granted fully-funded Chinese Government Scholarship (CGS) between 1990 and 2016, a figure that exceeds all other ASEAN countries.

According to the Chinese ambassador to Laos, the number of Lao students in China exceeded 9,900 in 2016, ranking Laos as one of the biggest source countries for international students in China.

With adequate mandarin language proficiency and professional knowledge in their respective fields, there is anticipation by both governments that students returning to Laos will play a constructive role in future bilateral cooperation.

To find out more about CGS please click here.

Source:ECNS

Photo: KPL

PM Thongloun Joins 31st ASEAN Summit

On Monday, November 13th, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith attended the 31st ASEAN Summit held in Manila, the Philippines.

Themed ‘Partnering for Change, Engaging the World’, ASEAN leaders reviewed the implementation of ASEAN Community Vision 2025, three ASEAN Community blueprints and visions to strengthen the ASEAN Community.  

They encouraged all relevant sectors to continue implementing the blueprints and actions plans successfully and effectively, thus contributing to the implementation of ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

During Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith’s address, he highlighted the achievements ASEAN has recorded over the past 50 years, the strengthening of ASEAN centred role and the promotion of access to credit among micro, small and medium enterprises, and the narrowing of development gap as well as ASEAN connectivity through the implementation of the 3rd Initiative for ASEAN Integration and ASEAN Connectivity Blueprint 2025.

The discussion at the meeting also focused on the cooperation between ASEAN and dialogue partners, and regional and international issues of common interest, especially situation in the Middle East, Korean peninsular, terrorism, and refugee disasters.

The Prime Minister also attended the 20th ASEAN-China Summit, the ASEAN-US 40th Anniversary Commemorative Summit, the 19th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit, the 20th ASEAN-Japan Summit and the 9th ASEAN-United Nations Summit.

The leaders of ASEAN and dialogue partners agreed to strengthen ASEAN-China cooperation, especially through the comprehensive implementation of ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement in order to achieve ASEAN-China trade value of US$ 1 trillion by 2020, enhance connectivity cooperation and promote tourism and people to people exchange.

ASEAN and China leaders agreed to designate innovation as the focus of the cooperation between ASEAN and China in 2018, and to draft the 2030 Vision for China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership.

ASEAN and U.S. leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening win-win cooperation, especially on security, trade, education, youth exchange. ASEAN leaders noted that the U.S. under the new leadership has continued to attach importance to the ASEAN-US relations and considered ASEAN as a priority of its external policy.

At the 19th ASEAN-R. Korea Summit, leaders expressed their satisfaction on the implementation of ASEAN-R. Korea Cultural Exchange Year 2017 and the establishment of ASEAN Cultural Centre in Busan, R. Korea to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding and people to people exchange between the two regions.

ASEAN and Korean leaders highly valued trade and investment cooperation between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea and reiterated the importance of the cooperation among micro, small and medium enterprises, the capacity building of ASEAN businesses, cooperation to narrow development gap and connectivity.

ASEAN and Japanese leaders reaffirmed at their 20th summit commitment to strengthen cooperation on connectivity, narrowing development gap, capacity building, human resource development, youth exchange, health and disaster relief efforts.

They welcomed Japan’s initiative to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN on the development of quality infrastructure, women empowerment, environment, health, and SME development.

ASEAN and UN leaders expressed their commitment to continue strengthening cooperation to promote peace, stability and cooperation for regional and international development.

They agreed to strengthen the collaboration between the two secretariats to ensure the implementation of ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

Both sides also exchanged points of view on regional and international issues of common interest.

Prime Minister Thoungloun also attended a meeting between leaders of ASEAN+Three and the East Asia Business Council, where representatives of the business community from participating countries presented issues related to strengthening participation of the business sector in Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Prime Minister Thongloun also had separate bilateral meetings with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Nov 12, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc and UN Secretary General António Guterres.

Source: KPL

Officials say Visit Laos-China Year 2019 Likely to Happen

With Visit Laos Year 2018 officially launched, talks of possibly introducing a Visit Laos-China Year 2019 have arose.

A minister has confirmed that Lao officials have discussed with their Chinese counterparts to push forward a plan to jointly introduce Visit Laos-China Year 2019.

The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara told the ongoing 4th Ordinary Session of the National Assembly’s 8th Legislature, “The launch of the Visit Laos-China Year 2019 campaign is highly possible.”

Chinese Ambassador to Laos, Wang Wentian, recently stated to Lao and Chinese media that thanks to the country’s long history, stunning scenery and fascinating attractions, combined with sincere and hospitable people who welcome visitors, Laos has a lot to offer foreign tourists.

Laos received an estimated 4.23 million visitors in 2016, and more than 700,000 were Chinese tourists on holiday.

Although Laos and China have both benefited from sound cooperation from tourism in past years, the ambassador highlighted that there was a potential to increase the number of Chinese visitors to Laos. Currently, an estimated 120 million Chinese take vacations abroad each year on average, and are dominating the global tourism market.

“If just one percent of Chinese outbound tourists came to Laos, the country would receive as many as 1.2 million Chinese visitors a year,” Ambassador Wang stated. In light of this potential, the ambassador said he initiated the idea of jointly launching Visit Laos-China Year 2019.

Though the initiative is still in its infancy stages and has yet to be approved, the ambassador remains confident that through the efforts of both sides, the proposal will be welcomed. He also mentioned that his embassy fully supports the concept and would assist in running a publicity campaign in China to promote Lao tourism, particularly during Visit Laos Year 2018.

“The proposed launch of Visit Laos-China Year 2019 is a lead-up to the completion of the Laos-China railway,” he added, referring to the slated completion date of 2021.

Ambassador Wang indicated that a promotion aimed at bringing more Chinese visitors to Laos would be the most effective use of the Laos-China railway.

Source: Asia News Network

City 2 Launches Public Transportation Trial Run

Vientiane City-2-Buses

The Vientiane State Bus Enterprise (VSBE) will be initiating a trial run of their bus line running between Lao-ITECC and Talat Sao this week. From Wednesday, November 15th to Monday, December 4th bus riders can catch a ride to and from ITECC to Talat Sao, with eighteen stops in between, for just 4,000 LAK per one way trip.

The new division, named City 2, was announced earlier in the year, and has buses donated by Kyoto, Japan that will run three routes: the Airport Line (main landmark: Wattay Airport), Commuter Line (main landmark: Patuxay), and Community Line (main landmark: Lao-ITECC).

city bus 2 map
Click to enlarge

Buses will run every hour, from 7:00- 16:30, please click here for more information on routes, bus stops and times.

Source: Vientiane City 2 Bus Service

Laos Eliminates Minimum Registered Capital Requirement for Foreign Investment

Last week, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued a notification, No.2633/cabinet/MOIC to all Industry and Commerce offices in Vientiane Municipality, provinces and districts to strictly implement the dissolution of the minimum registered capital requirement for foreign investment in the activities under the General Business list such as; manufacturing factory, training provider, real estate, restaurant etc. However, a minimum registered capital is still required for certain activities under the Controlled Business List which are governed by specific sector regulations.

This is the first step towards enforcing the implementation of the Investment Law (amendment) No. 14/NA. The previous Investment law of 2009 required foreign investors to contribute a minimum registered capital of 1 billion kip, or 120,000 USD in order to establish a business in General Business. This has been eliminated by the new Investment Law 2016.

For more information visit: http://www.erm.gov.la/index.php/en/about-us

Source: ECCIL

Chinese President’s Visit Bolsters Development Ties with Laos

With a visit from China’s President Xi Jinping currently underway in Vientiane, the Minister of Energy and Mining, Mr Khammany Inthirath has spoken to China’s CCTV, CRI correspondents and Lao media, that in terms of energy and mining development in Laos, China is good for the country’s development.

“The visit to Laos by President Xi Jinping is a significant and meaningful landmark for the cooperation and strengthening of traditional solidarity, and the long, stable and lasting strategic partnership between the two countries Laos and China,” said Mr Khammany Inthirath.

He added, “As we know, China is a strong economy, many technicians have broad knowledge of development, business administration and extensive experience in operating investment projects.”

According to the Director General of Lao News Agency KPL, Sounthone Khanthavong, the Lao media currently has set their focus on the the Chinese state leader’s visit, providing information related to the visit in an effort to keep Lao people well informed.

“The visit will represent mutual trust, understanding, assistance, support and strengthen the traditional relations and strategic partnership in line with the so-called four-good principle which constitutes the best thing reaffirming the inspirations of the Lao and Chinese people,” the director general stated in an interview to CCTV correspondent, Tang Xin.

The Chinese President’s planned visit to Laos on November 13-14 comes at a crucial time, as officials anticipate the visit will result in several major developments benefiting both countries. The Chinese media has been implored by Lao authorities to promote information on Laos to entice Chinese visitors to visit during Visit Laos Year 2018.

For more information on roadblocks stationed throughout the capital during the visit, please click here.

Source: KPL

Prime Minister of Laos Turns 72, Celebrates Birthday In the Skies

Nov 10 – Government officials, with the help of Lao Airlines staff, joined together to surprise Prime Minister Sisoulith with a birthday cake on his 72nd birthday, on a plane. The Prime Minister and his delegation were en route to the 31st ASEAN Summit that is to take place during 11-14 November in Manila (the Philippines).

In a rare, light hearted video released by the Support Prime Minister Thongloung Sisoulith Facebook Page, a senior government official (appearing to be Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Khampheng Saysompheng) holds a fruitcake in front of the Prime Minister as he blows out the candles, inciting a convivial applause from the surrounding staff, who were all in on the surprise.

During a time when he is spearheading an unprecedented reform movement in Laos, the Prime Minister still gets out of his seat for an enjoyable time with his colleagues. Acknowledging that life isn’t all about politics, the Prime Minister can be seen putting on a contagious smile, one that makes us all forget, for a fleeting moment, about all the problems that he has to face when the plane lands.

It’s no wonder they call him the Nayok Kuanchai Paxason (the People’s Prime Minister).