[Tlc] TLC-Cambodian, Lao, Thai relations

[justinm at ucr.edu]

See below two stories. The first on Lao-Thai relations and the
second on Cambodian-Lao relations.
Best,
justin

2007-0815 - TNA - Thailand, Laos agree to boost trade and economy

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=31068

Thailand, Laos agree to boost trade and economy

BANGKOK, Aug 15 (TNA) – Thailand and Laos have joined forces
to double their total trade value by 2010 and will organise an
expo to promote their products at the beginning of next month.

Thai Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet and Nam Viyaket, Lao
Minister of Industry and Commerce recently endorsed an
agreement to boost the level of economy, trade, and investment
between the two countries.

The two sides plan to double the value of their mutual trade
within 2010 and triple the value of Lao exports, including
electricity to Thailand, in 2010.

The Thai ministry of commerce also plans to organise a
Thai-Indochina Trade Fair 2007 beginning August 31 through
September 9 at the city hall in Thailand's northeastern
province of Ubon Ratchathani to promote trade between the
Mekong countries.

Entrepreneurs from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand will
showcase their products such as food, handicrafts, herb, spa
and tourism products, at more than 500 booths.

On August 29, Thailand and Laos will hold a seminar about
preparing to establish the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2012.

And on August 30, senior Thai officials of the Office of
Commercial Affairs and Lao trade officials will meet to
discuss Thai-Lao trade and the plan for shared economic
cooperation.

A number of Thai provinces and their Lao counterparts are
trade partners and the pilot project to develop local
entrepreneurs will be implemented. (TNA)-E004


2007-0815 - KPL News

http://www.kpl.net.la/

Laos-Cambodia bilateral co-operation expanded
(KPL) The tenth meeting of the Cambodian –Lao Joint Commission
for bilateral co-operation held from 9-10 August at
Sihanoukville, Cambodia was officially ended with a number of
results. The Lao side led by Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Lao-Cambodian
Co-operation Commission, Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith while the
Cambodian side led by Mr. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister,
and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.
At the meeting, the sides agreed to speed up the inspection
and demarcation process of existing borders between the two
countries. They also agreed to begin building a road linking
the road No.13 South of Laos and the road No. 7 of Cambodia,
as well as the international immigration border checkpoint of
the two countries. The aim is to facilitate exchange of visits
between the two countries, as well as to promote trade,
tourism and transport of goods via the border. The sides also
agreed to increase trade volume between the two countries, and
to co-operate in cracking down on the activities of people
smuggling goods across the Laos-Cambodia border, stealing
vehicles, drug trafficking, illegal logging and illegal
hunting of wildlife.
The meeting also reviewed the achievements of the co-operation
agreement reached at the 9th meeting of the Lao and Cambodian
Co-operation Commission.
The sides also highly valued the relations and co-operation
between two countries, mainly in the areas of politics,
security, border issues, agriculture, forestry, fisheries,
telecommunications, trade, mining, education, health and tourism.
The meeting was conducted amidst an atmosphere of friendship
and mutual understanding, reflecting the long tradition of
solidarity between Laos and Cambodia.
During the visit to Cambodia, Dr. Thongloun paid a courtesy
call on Cambodian Prime Minister SamdechHun Sen and attended
the celebrations of the 40thanniversary of the establishment
of the Association of South East Asian Nations in Phnom Penh.
The next meeting of the Lao and Cambodian Co-operation
Commission will be held in the next two years.

Vientiane approves 2 billion for road maintenance
(KPL) This year, the administrative of Vientiane province has
approved 2 billion kip for road maintenance within three years
period.
According to a signing contract on road maintenance held on 10
August, between authorities of Vientiane Communication,
Transport, Post and Construction Department and Road and
Bridge Construction State Enterprise Company.
The road maintenance will be practised along the national road
No 10 from km33 to km96 with a total length of 63 km.
Signatories to the document were Mr. Thavone Phengsengsia,
Head of Vientiane Communication, Transport, Post and
Construction Department and Mr.
Viengsay Phanthavongsay, Director of Road and Bridge
Construction State Enterprise Company in the presence of
officials concerned.
This road has so far badly damaged leading to communicators
along this road encountered complicated and unsafe,
particularly goods transportation in the province.

Enlarged meeting of NA opened
(KPL) An enlarged meeting of the National Assembly , 6th
legislature was opened on13 August under the chairmanship of
its Vice President Saysomphone Phomvihane.The one day meeting
attended by core cadre and senior officials has reviewed the
assigned works made during the past 10 months for the
2006-2007 period and discussed the 2007-2008 plan of the
National Assembly.
The political study was also held on this occasion for all
senior officials which was aimed to reduce the weak point and
to promote the favourable conditions.
The meeting also discussed and commented to the issues raised
at the meeting, especially the directions for implementing the
works of NA.

RoK to donate 1,000 computers to National Assembly
(KPL) The Republic of Korea’s Financial Institute has agreed
to donate 1,000 computers to the Lao National Assembly while
domestically based company Kolao has claimed to be responsible
for the transportation of aided package from the RoK to Laos.
The institute announced its donation last week when Deputy
President of National Assembly, Mr Saysomphone Phomvihane and
his delegation were conducting their one-week working visit to
the Republic of Korea. The delegation arrived Vientiane on 11
August. The visit was aimed to enhance the relationship
co-operation of Laos and RoK especially their exchange of
experience on socio-economic development.
Mr Saysomphone Phomvihane and his delegation were warmly
welcomed by the Deputy President of the Republic of Korea
National Assembly.
At their bilateral meeting held in Seoul, the both sides
discussed many issues including the mutual assistant between
the both national legislature organisations.
Mr Saysomphone conveyed the greetings from the President of
Lao National Assembly, Mr. Thongsing Thammavong, to the
President of National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and
invited him to visit the Lao PDR.
The both sides pledged to further their co-operation and
encourage the Republic of Korea’s business people to invest in
Laos especially in financial services.
Lao delegation also met the Chairman of RoK-Laos Friendship
Association Mr Kim Yong Khap. Many issues on bilateral
co-operation and mutual assistance between two countries were
raised at their bilateral meeting.
The Lao delegation also visited Yeosu City, which is bidding
to host the World Expo 2012 and visited several outstanding
industrial establishments within the city.

Champassak focuses on expanding education network to rural
(KPL) Champassak province will pay all its efforts to expand
education network to rural and remote areas to promote
literacy by the upcoming of this academic year.The effort has
been made by Mr. Sonesay Siphandone, Champassak Governor
during attending an annual meeting on education development of
Champassak province, held from 8 to 10 August.
“The education is a core work for human resource development
which many fields have been achieved,” said governor.
People living in almost 800 villages in six districts have
been listed as literacy out of this figure about 700 villages
were determined as graduated villages at the primary school.
Teachers at all levels have so far been upgraded their
knowledge and skills, and school buildings have also been
repaired and maintained thanks to the care and attention of
Champassak administration in cooperation with local people.
“The provincial education administrators each levels should
recalled curriculum and paid more attention to the quality of
teachers, and addressed inadequate of teachers condition and
the allocation of teachers to each districts,” Governor
Sonesay stressed.
The procedure of training teachers has also been paid
attention so as to make them understanding Party’s guideline
and state’s policy, and strategic plan of education
development, he continued.
The expansion of education network to rural areas needs to
work with local authorities for seeking potential resource at
localities in line with reality, he advised.
The event was attended by education administrators from ten
districts and party sectors concerned.

Roberto Baggio to reduce famine reduction in the Lao PDR
(KPL) A former Italy’s national football player, Roberto
Baggio, current Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
Goodwill Ambassador is due to visit the Lao PDR on 3-5
September to promote the reduction of Lao people’s famine and
malnutrition.
Last Friday in Vientiane, the Country Representative of the
United Nations’ FAO Mr Serge Verniau said that Roberto’s visit
to Laos was among his efforts to contribute to the
implementation of FAO’s policies. Roberto played for his
nation in three World Cups and he shot goals in every world
cup he attended. He is only one who has had such achievement
in Italy’s football history. Roberto was awarded World’s Best
Football Prayer and Europe’s Best Football Prayer in 1993.
In 2002, Roberto was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador of FAO
and later he founded his web-site to promote the provision of
assistance to FAO and fight against the famine of people
world-wide.

Health reviews PMCT’s implementation
(KPL) The Ministry of Health held a meeting to review the
implementation of the Prevention of Mother to Child
Transmission (PMCT) of HIV in the past six months on 13
August, in Vientiane.
Deputy Minister of Health Dr Bounkouang Phichith, and the
Director General of Anti-Disease and Sanitation Department as
well as the representatives of relevant sectors attended the
meeting.
The project implemented on 2000-2010 is aimed to improve the
health of mothers and children by advising them the risks of
the infection of sexually transmitted diseases.
The project is implemented with the financial assistance of
the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF) and has spent
over US$190,000 out of US$ 355,000, its annual budget plan, so
far.
Implemented by Anti-Disease and Sanitation Department, the
project supports the efforts of hospitals in Vientiane, and
provinces: Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Vientiane,
Savannakhet, and Champassak.
In addition, the project also collaborates with the Lao Trade
Union to promote men’s participation in the prevention of
mother to child transmission of infected diseases.

Sekong province wants to double agricultural production
(KPL) Sekong province has vowed to double its agricultural and
animal out put during 2007-2008.The target is part of a push
by the province to ensure that its people not only have enough
food, but are producing for the market.
The focus is on creating model families which will grow
commercial trees such as coffee, maize and medicinal trees.
The provincial government has also prioritised animal raising
as a way to improve living conditions. It has set a target of
30,000 of water buffaloes and 20,000 cattle.

Laos, Vietnam diplomatic ties marked in Japan
(KPL) The embassies of Vietnam and Laos in Japan on August 11
co-hosted a get-together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of
the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty (July 18)
and the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two
countries (Sept. 5). This is according to the Vietnam News
Agency report on 13 August.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Chu Tuan Cap highlighted the
significance of the two historical events and expressed his
pleasure at the development of bilateral friendship, which has
been forged during the two countries’ struggles for national
independence and current national development.
Lao Ambassador to Japan Sithon Chitnhongthinh also stressed
that the signing of the cooperation treaty was an important
event of the two countries’ relations, which served as a
cornerstone for the two sides to enhance their cooperation in
all fields.
The two embassies’ staff later joined in sports competitions,
music performances, and enjoyed traditional dishes of the two
nations.
On Aug 10, the Vietnamese and Lao embassies in Belgium also
marked the two anniversaries at a joint ceremony, which was
also attended by representatives of the overseas Vietnamese
and Lao communities in Belgium.
Vietnamese Ambassador Phan Thuy Thanh and Lao counterpart
Thongphachanh Sonnashinh recalled the development of the two
countries’ relationship over the past 45 years.
The two ambassadors, who are also heads of their own
countries’ representative delegations to the European Union,
appreciated the effective coordination between the two
embassies and delegations in enhancing the cooperation between
the two countries and the EU, and the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU as well.
The participants raised toasts to the development of the
friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
2617 Humanities Building
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu