 TUESDAY MAY 7, 2024
Vientiane Times
Xi aims to open brighter Russian Ambassador :
future of China-France Lao President visits Russia to
ties via visit reinforce longstanding ties
PARIS (Xinhua) -- Chinese
President Xi Jinping said here
on Sunday that he hopes China
and France will light up their
way forward with the torch of
history, open a brighter future
of China-France relations
and make new contributions
to world peace, stability and
development.
Xi made the remarks in
a written speech upon his
arrival here for a state visit to
France.
He said during the visit,
he will have an in-depth
exchange of views with French
President Emmanuel Macron
on growing China-France and
China-Europe relations under
the new circumstances as well
as major international and
regional issues in the world
today.
“I hope this visit will help
cement our long-standing
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Paris for a state visit
to France at the invitation of French President Emmanuel
Macron.
friendship, enhance political
trust, build strategic consensus
and deepen exchanges and
cooperation in various fields,”
he said, adding that it is a
great pleasure to begin his
third state visit to the French
Republic at the invitation of
Macron.
Back in 2014 and 2019,
Xi paid two visits to France,
both in spring, to celebrate the
50th and 55th anniversaries of
diplomatic relations together
with the people of France.
“As we celebrate the 60th
anniversary of our diplomatic
ties, I have a strong sense of
deja vu when setting foot
again on the soil of your
beautiful country. On behalf
of the Chinese government
and people, I wish to take
this opportunity to extend
our warmest greetings and
best wishes to the French
government and people,” Xi
said.
As important
representatives of Eastern
and Western civilisations,
The First National English Language Newspaper established in 1994
ISSUE 85
China and France have a long
history of mutual appreciation
and admiration, said Xi.
French Enlightenment
thinkers turned to study
Chinese culture centuries
ago, and great French thinkers
and writers such as Voltaire,
Diderot, Hugo and Balzac
have been household names
in China, he added.
He also noted that 60
years ago, the two countries
broke through Cold War blocs
and established diplomatic
relations at the ambassadorial
level.
In the 60 years since, the
bilateral relations have always
stayed abreast of China’s
relations with Western
countries, setting a prime
example for countries with
different social systems to
coexist in peace and pursue
win-win cooperation, said Xi.
In recent years, the
relationship between China
and France has risen to
new heights, and the two
countries keep making new
progress in cooperation on
aviation, aerospace, nuclear
energy, agrifood and green
development, Xi said.
He said that the two
countries enjoy close
coordination and cooperation
on climate response,
biodiversity protection and
global governance, adding
that activities of the China-
France Year of Culture and
Tourism are unfolding across
the board.
“A growing China-France
relationship not only brings
benefits to both peoples,
but also provides stability
and positive energy to the
turbulent world,” Xi said.
The Chinese president
was received by French Prime
Minister Gabriel Attal at Paris
Orly airport and warmly
welcomed by overseas
Chinese upon arrival.
www.vientianetimes.org.la and www.vientianetimeslao.la
Bounfaeng Phaymanivong
President Thongloun
Sisoulith will lead a
government delegation on
a working visit to Russia
from May 7-11, aimed at
strengthening ties between
the two countries, which
have a longstanding history
of mutual support.
Speaking to reporters
on Monday, Ambassador
Vladimir A. Kalinin of the
Russian Federation to Laos
said the President’s visit
will enhance the friendly
relations and cooperation
between the two countries.
“Russian-Lao ties are
characterised by their
multidimensional nature.
Our countries continue
to advance their political
dialogue, including, first
of all, at the highest level,”
he said, noting that the
President of the Russian
Federation, Vladimir Putin,
met with Lao Vice President
Pany Yathotou in September
last year on the sidelines
of the Eastern Economic
Forum in Vladivostok.
The Ambassador said
President Putin also had
fruitful talks with President
Thongloun Sisoulith on the
sidelines of the Third Belt
and Road Forum, held in
Health chief issues warning over
hot weather ailments
Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth of Health Dr Phayvanh for people with high blood
Doctors have warned people
to be on their guard again
the risk of illnesses that
can result due to extreme
hot weather, when high
temperatures can affect the
body’s metabolism as well
as increase the risk of food
poisoning.
Food poisoning is more
likely to occur because
pathogenic bacteria grow
at a faster rate during hot
weather and can contaminate
food, with potentially
disastrous consequences for
consumers, with diarrhoea
being the main symptom.
High levels of pathogenic
bacteria can cause cholera
a n d d y s e n t e r y, w h i l e
typhoid fever, sunburn and
heat exhaustion are also
more likely to occur during
periods of high temperature.
Although the extreme
hot weather of recent days
has eased as the rainy season
kicks in and temperatures
have fallen, Deputy Minister
Ambassador Vladimir A. Kalinin of the Russian Federation
to Laos on Monday talks to reporters ahead of President
Thongloun Sisoulith’s visit to Russia this week.
Beijing last October.
“There is no doubt that
planned contacts between the
leaders of our countries will
be, as always, of especially
friendly character, and
substantial and beneficial
for the peoples of Russia
and Laos,” he said.
He noted that Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov and Laos’ Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Saleumxay
Kommasith had held talks
on several occasions, which
constituted an important
pillar of cooperation
between the two countries.
“Our two countries
share a commitment to
Keopaseuth advised people
to be aware of the risks due
to extreme heat and to take
precautions.
The most common type
of heat stress is heatstroke,
he said, in which the
body accumulates heat
at temperatures above 40
degrees Celsius.
Symptoms include
sweating, rapid pulse,
palpitations, convulsions,
spasticity, and loss of
consciousness. People with
high blood pressure should
be extra careful and not
over-exert themselves, he
warned.
“If not treated properly
and promptly, heatstroke can
result in cardiac arrest and
death. Heatstroke severity
can be exacerbated by a
variety of factors, including
diabetes, heart disease,
high blood pressure, and
dehydration,” he said.
High temperatures and
high humidity can have
serious health consequences
5500 kip
Inside
Vietnamese Ambassador
to Laos highlights
enduring legacy of
Dien Bien Phu Victory
[ Page 2 ]
Photo exhibition marks
70th anniversary of
Vietnam’s victory at Dien
Bien Phu
[ Page 3 ]
the formation of a more
equitable and democratic
multipolar world based
on the principles of the
UN Charter and respect
for the right of peoples
to their own indigenous Khammuan authorities
development models,” the extinguish wildfires
Russian Ambassador said. [ Page 3 ]
“Our common undisputed
priority is the promotion
of trade and economic
cooperation. A significant
role in this area has been
played by the Russian-
Lao Intergovernmental
Commission on Trade, New laws to stem drug
Economic, Scientific and dealers, corrupt officials
Technical Cooperation.” and dirty money from
In recent years, Russia heating up Australia’s real
CONTINUED PAGE 3 estate market
[ Page 5 ]
pressure and heart disease.
People are at greater DP World to manage
risk of being affected by Savannakhet SEZ Zone C
humidity if they are over [ Page 8 ]
the age of 50, overweight,
or have heart, lung or kidney
conditions.
To reduce the risk of
heatstroke, Dr Phayvanh
recommended drinking at
least eight glasses of water a
day, wearing airy, breathable
clothing, avoiding being in
the sun or exercising in hot Capturing the magic of
weather, and drinking less sunrise in Vangvieng
alcohol. [ Page 10 ]
2 Home news Tuesday May 7, 2024
Improved animal health systems
set to reduce disease threat
Times Reporters
Lao authorities and their
development partners plan
to introduce strengthened
animal health systems to
reduce the risks and impacts
of disease on livestock,
thus bolstering the animal
husbandry industry and food
security.
The Department of
Livestock and Fisheries of
the Ministry of Agriculture
and Forestry, in cooperation
with the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) of the
United Nations, unveiled the
new scheme last week.
Improved animal health
systems will reduce emerging
animal disease threats,
antimicrobial resistance,
and biothreats through a
“One Health” and inclusive
approach, and support the
animal sector’s contribution
to global health security.
Speaking at the launch of
the project, Deputy Director
General of the Department
of Livestock and Fisheries
Dr Souphavanh Keovilay
said the cooperation,
technical expertise and
knowhow provided by the
FAO through its Emergency
Centre for Transboundary
Animal Diseases will lead
to results such as detailed
workplans and activities
for the benefit of livestock,
the environment, and
Transport ministry eyes extensive dry port development
Times Reporters
The government is pushing
for the development of a
modern transport system,
with the goal of connecting
the Laos-China Railway to
sub-regional and international
railways, roads, ports and
airports.
The aim is to create a
transport system that is fast,
safe, highly efficient, and
reduces costs.
This was the message
from Deputy Minister of
Public Works and Transport
Mr Lan Sengaphone when
addressing a meeting to
review the ministry’s five-year
socio-economic development
plan for 2021-2025.
Mr Lan said that over the
past two and a half years,
great strides have been made
in infrastructure development,
improving regional and
global links that facilitate
production, services, trade
Lao Press in Foreign Languages
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Founders:
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Savankhone Razmountry
Editor-in-Chief:
Thonglor Duangsavanh
Representatives of the government and development
partners attend a workshop on strengthening animal health
systems.
communities in Laos.
The launch was also
attended by project donors
such as the United States
Agency for International
Development (USAID)
and the US Defense Threat
Reduction Agency.
The USAID Country
Representative to Laos, Mr
Michael Ronning, said the
organisation is committed
to supporting Laos under
a partnership in the fight
against zoonotic diseases and
other health threats.
A key factor for success
is close coordination at the
regional and national levels
on early warning, capacity-
building programmes,
and the maintenance of
epidemiology and laboratory
net-works, he added.
The FAO Representative
in Laos, Kyung-Mee Kim,
said the agency will do more
and investment.
The ministry’s Public
Wo r k s a n d Tr a n s p o r t
Department has spearheaded
the development of a
comprehensive transport
system, using the Laos-
China Railway to connect
with the Mekong sub-region
rail network and ASEAN,
and the Trans Asian Railway
to connect to roads, ports and
airports.
The Savannakhet Dry
Port, Champassak Dry
Port, and Thanaleng Dry
Port in Vientiane are already
providing high quality
services and the ministry
is closely monitoring the
management of these ports
and reviewing legislation
around their operation.
Over the past two and a
half years, the three dry ports
have generated more than
231 billion kip in revenue,
including 55.68 billion kip
in 2021, 109.82 billion kip in
Tel: 021 336042
info@vientianetimes.la
Deputy Editor-in-Chief:
Phon Thikeo
Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos
highlights enduring legacy of
Dien Bien Phu Victory
VIENTIANE (VNA) --
Seven decades have passed,
the historical lesson on the
tradition of friendship and
solidarity among the people
of the three Indochinese
countries, especially
b e t w e e n Vi e t n a m a n d
Laos, in the Dien Bien Phu
Victory, still holds its value
today, said Vietnamese
Ambassador to Laos
to assist the government to Nguyen Ba Hung.
realise project outcomes to In an interview recently
ensure better production, granted to the press on
better nutrition, a better the occasion of the 70th
environment, and a better anniversary of the Dien
life for all. Bien Phu Victory, Hung
To prepare for disease highlighted the victory’s
outbreaks and to reduce immense historical
the risks and impacts of significance in the national
biological threats, the liberation struggle of the
USAID commissioned three Indochinese countries
t h e FAO t o u n d ert ak e in general and Vietnam
the strengthening of
and Laos in particular,
animal health systems for
biological threat reduction saying that following the
in Southeast Asia by 2027. glorious Dien Bien Phu
The project is expected to Victory, which “resounded
improve the epidemiological across the five continents
capabilities of government and shook the globe”, on
staff, strengthen laboratory July 21, 1954, the Geneva
networks, and enhance Accords ending hostilities
strategic surveillance and i n Vi e t n a m , L a o s a n d
early warning systems across Cambodia was signed,
animal health systems. under which France and
The initiative is the the countries participating
second such scheme to be in the conference pledged
implemented by the FAO. to respect the independence,
The Thanaleng Dry Port in Vientiane.
2022, and 28.02 billion kip in of a joint venture company Regional Economic Corridor
the first five months of 2023. and the varying shareholder and Connectivity Project
In addition, the ministry is percentages.
in the process of establishing In Bokeo province, a
dry ports at six other locations. feasibility study is underway
I n L u a n g N a m t h a for the construction of a dry
province, a site for the port in Huayxai district and
Nateuy dry port has been the viability of freight transit
identified and companies services.
selected to build the facility. In Khammuan province,
The Ministry of Planning construction of the Thakhaek
and Investment is now dry port is now 15 percent
discussing the establishment complete.
Tel: 55624351, 021 336042 News Editor:
1972phon@gmail.com Somsack Pongkhao
Deputy Editor-in-Chief:
Tel: 020 55794447,
021-336045, Fax: 336041
Mr Sisay Vilaysack somsackpongkhao@gmail.com
Tel: 55615716 Business Editor:
sisay69@gmail.com Manichanh Pansivongxay
Tel: 020 91698789, 021
Features Editor: 336044, Fax: 021 336041
Ekaphone Phouthonsy chanfeature@gmail.com
Tel: 020 92827415, Graphic Designer/IT:
021 336044, Souknilundon
Fax: 021 336041 Southivongnorath
ekaphouthonesy@gmail.com Tel: 020 56464263
Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung.
sovereignty, unity and
territorial integrity of the
three countries. This laid
an important international
legal foundation for their
people to gradually regain
national independence
and reunification in each
country.
To uphold the tradition
of friendship and solidarity
among the people of the
three nations, he called
for promoting patriotism,
the spirit of independence,
national pride, self-reliance
and determination to
overcome challenges.
With regards to the
Vietnam-Laos relationship,
I n B o r i k h a m x a y,
provincial authorities are
seeking companies to build
the Lak 20km dry port.
The Ministry of Public
Works and Transport also
plans to build a dry port in
Luang Prabang province.
In Oudomxay province,
the ministry is carrying
out a feasibility study on
the construction of a dry
port in Xay district and
preparing tender documents,
hoping to attract investment
through the Southeast Asia
(SEARECC).
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the ambassador suggested
deepening political ties via
the effective implementation
of high-level agreements
and educational campaigns
about the bilateral special
relations.
To expand bilateral
economic ties, he said it is
crucial to offer all possible
support to businesses and
people of both nations
while fully tapping the
benefits of existing free
trade agreements to extend
markets and draw more
capital.
Hung further noted the
immense sense of pride
and inspiration the Dien
Bien Phu Victory evokes
in Vietnamese citizens,
especially the younger
generation. He described
this victory as a powerful
source of motivation,
encouraging their active
involvement in national
development and defence
efforts.
The diplomat concluded
by expressing his hope
that the people of Vietnam
and Laos will continue
to build upon their
tradition of solidarity and
partnership, maintain faith
in the leadership of both
Parties, and work together
to leverage each other’s
advantages for mutual
development.
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Vientiane Times
Two ministers replaced amid changing circumstances
Dr Phet Phomphiphak (left) replaces Mr
Khamjane Vongphosy as Minister of Planning
and Investment in a ceremony witnessed by
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.
--Photo Paxason
Times Reporters
The Minister of Planning and Investment and
the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry were
replaced on Monday, with the government saying
Tuesday May 7, 2024 Home news 3
it is normal practice to make changes in line with
new circumstances and work requirements.
Former Secretary General of the National
Assembly, Associate Prof. Dr Linkham
Duangsavanh, has replaced Dr Phet
Phomphiphak as the Minister of Agriculture
and Forestry.
Dr Phet takes up a new post as Minister
of Planning and Investment, replacing Mr
Khamjane Vongphosy, who has been assigned
to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Presiding over the position handover
ceremony at the Ministry of Planning
and Investment, Prime Minister Sonexay
Siphandone, who is also a Politburo member,
said leadership changes in the Party, government
and mass organisations are normal practice
among Party personnel.
The changes match new circumstances and
take into account the particular competencies
of individual ministers in relation to their work Vice President Pany Yathotou and other guests view photographs depicting Vietnam’s
requirements. victory in the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

Khammuan authorities extinguish wildfires Photo exhibition marks

The Army uses a helicopter
to extinguishing a wildfire in
Khammuan province.
Times Reporters
Authorities in Khammuan
province have put out a forest
fire in Bualapha district, where
the situation has returned to
Ministry embarks on tour guide training programme
Times Reporters
More will be done to ensure
that tour guides are qualified
normal following concerted
actions to tackle such blazes.
Between April 30 and
May 3, the Governor of
Khammuan province, Mr
Vanxay Phongsavanh, worked
with leaders of the province
and related departments
to encourage and mobilise
district authorities, village
organisations and people in
areas affected by forest fires,
especially Bualapha district,
where there were fires at
several places in the past three
to four days.
Mr Vanxay and the other
leaders mobilised all parties
and forces to put out the fires
so that they could not spread
to more areas. They also
coordinated with the air force
and the Ministry of National
Defence to use aircraft to put
out fires and to survey forests
in the area to find ways to
prevent wildfires.
Concerns have grown
about wildfires affecting the
people’s livelihood, especially
during the dry season. The
hot weather is the cause of
most forest fires. However,
as of now, forest fires have
subsided in the area and the
situation has returned to
normal.
Mr Vanxay emphasized
that all parts of society should
participate in efforts to control
forest fires and carry out
regular monitoring to prevent
fires that may occur at any
time. At the same time, they
should pay attention to the
strict implementation of laws
and regulations.
He also called on people
across the province to pay
attention to protecting forest
resources and forested land.
He directed the relevant parties
to apply strict legal measures
against individuals and legal
entities who encroach on
forest land and illegally use
forest resources.
Many hectares of forests
across Laos have been
damaged by raging wildfires
triggered by the hot and dry
weather. Many wildfires are
also the result of slash-and-
burn cultivation.
to build strength in this field so a powerful reminder of the
that we can provide sufficient
numbers of qualified tour
guides to meet the needs of
70th anniversary of Vietnam’s
victory at Dien Bien Phu
Times Reporters
The Ministry of National
Defence on Monday
inaugurated a photo
exhibition to mark the 70th
anniversary of Dien Bien Phu
Victory Day, commemorating
the enduring unity and
cooperation between Laos
and Vietnam.
The opening ceremony
was attended by Vice
President Mrs Pany
Ya t h o t o u , Vi e t n a m e s e
Ambassador Nguyen Ba
Hung, and other dignitaries.
This exhibition, which
will open to the public on
the historic date of May 7,
celebrates the day when the
allied forces of Laos and
Vietnam secured a decisive
victory in the battle of Dien
Bien Phu.
The victory, a significant
chapter in history books, is
Russian Ambassador...
resilience and solidarity of
the Lao and Vietnamese
people.
Deputy Minister of
National Defence Lieutenant
G e n e r a l Vo n g k h a m
Phommakone stressed the
victory’s profound impact
on the alliance between
Laos and Vietnam.
“This victory is a
cornerstone of our unity,
symbolising our joint efforts
in overcoming adversity,”
he said.
According to the
VietnamPlus news agency,
Ambassador Nguyen Ba
Hung spoke of the immense
pride and inspiration the
Dien Bien Phu Victory
instills in Vietnamese
citizens, particularly the
younger generation.
“This victory continues
to motivate the younger
generation to actively
participate in our nation’s
FROM PAGE 1
development and defence,”
he said.
The exhibition not
only depicts the valiant
struggle for independence
led by President Ho Chi
Minh and the Communist
Party of Vietnam, but also
underscores the sacrifices
made by the Vietnamese
army and its Lao allies.
During the opening
ceremony, state and Party
leaders and all guests were
invited to explore the
display of photographs,
which capture the essence
of heroism and the spirit
of brotherhood that fueled
the historic liberation
movement.
The exhibition is a
testament to the enduring
friendship between Laos
and Vietnam, forged through
shared trials and triumphs,
and which continues to
inspire future generations.

to meet the needs of the
increasing number of visitors
to Laos, as many currently do
not have sufficient training.
The issue was discussed
at a meeting led by Deputy
Minister of Information,
Culture and Tourism Ms
Dalany Phommavongsa,
ahead of a tour guide training
course taking place in
Vientiane from May 6 to
July 19.
More than 80 participants
will get lessons on the
attributes needed to lead
groups of visitors on tours of
important sites around Laos,
with training to be conducted
in the classroom and in the
field.
The provision of
adequately prepared and
properly trained tour guides is
a matter of great importance,
so training is being provided
to ensure that expected high
standards are met, Ms Dalany
said.
Deputy Minister of
Information, Culture
and Tourism Ms Dalany
Phommavongsa speaks at
a meeting on Monday to
discuss tour guide training.
“If we can supply good
quality tour guides, I am
confident that we can also
tackle the problem of foreign
tour guides taking their place,
which is against the law and
is currently a problem,” the
Deputy Minister said.
“This line of work should
be reserved solely for Lao
nationals and we should not
allow people from other
countries to do this job. But to
be successful, we must strive
all visitors,” she added. has carried out several educational spheres, the management, environmental
More than 1.1 million d e v e l o p m e n t p r o j e c t s government of the Russian and climate cooperation,
foreign tourists visited Laos in Laos in the spheres Federation provides 100 and energy security and
in the first three months of of public health, human scholarships for Lao sustainability.
this year, an increase of 36 resources, professional nationals to study at Russian ASEAN and Russia have
percent compared to the same skills development, and universities every year. been working together under
period in 2023, according to UXO clearance. The Russian Embassy the Comprehensive Plan
the Ministry of Information, Since 2022 a large-scale in Laos also arranges of Action to implement
Culture and Tourism. renovation of the Lao- “culture days” in Vientiane the ASEAN-Russia Strategic
The increase is attributed Soviet “Mittaphab” Hospital as well as the Russian Film Partnership for 2021-
to this being Visit Laos Year in cooperation with the Festival organised by the 2025, involving education,
and the fact that more people United Nations Office for Russian Science and Culture digital transformation,
are entering Laos via the Project Services (UNOPS) Centre in Vientiane with the e-governance, tourism,
Laos-China Railway. has been underway, in support of Laos’ Ministry culture and people-to-
The railway is a very which Russia has allocated of Information, Culture and people contacts.
popular means of travel significant funding, with Tourism. While in Russia,
and passes through Luang design, construction and The Ambassador said President Thongloun and
Prabang and Oudomxay capacity building taking the Russian Federation fully his delegation will attend a
provinces, which have many place to improve healthcare supports Laos’ ASEAN ceremony to mark the 79th
places of interest to tourists. infrastructure in Laos. Chairmanship this year, anniversary of Victory Day
Under the Visit Laos Year Additionally, Russia is adding that President over Fascism in the Great
2024 campaign, tourism engaged in UXO clearance Thongloun’s visit will be a Patriotic War (May 9, 1945-
authorities and operators have in Laos, involving Russian significant boost to ASEAN- 2024).
improved services at hotels, mine clearance units since Russia dialogue. They will also
guesthouses and restaurants, 2 0 1 8 , w o r k i n g i n t h e ASEAN-Russia commemorate the 30th
and added more facilities at provinces of Borikhamxay, cooperation covers a wide anniversary of the signing
tourist sites, to provide a better Xieng Khuang, Khammuan range of areas, including of the Treaty on Amity
and more interesting visitor and Huaphan. enhancing regional between Laos and Russia
experience. In the cultural and food security, disaster (1994-2024).
4 Tuesday May 7, 2024 Vientiane Times

Excerpts from the Lao Media Photo Scenes

Savannakhet officials boost

basic infrastructure
Savannakhet provincial officials are helping improve the basic infrastructure in Naxeng
village of Kaysone Phomvihane city to boost development in the area.
Last week, the Governor of Savannakhet, Mr Bounchom Ubonpaseuth, and other
provincial officials reviewed the measures undertaken to improve the basic infrastructure
in Naxeng.
Naxeng comprises 316 families, has a population of 2,413, including 1,193 women.
Farming is done on 467 hectares and a variety of crops are grown.
Local villagers are engaged in growing rice covering 90 percent of the fields, and on
the remaining 10 percent animals are reared.
Earlier, district officials had spread information about policies and other juridical acts Officials from the Supreme People’s Prosecutor Office in Vientiane deliver a motorbike, a
of the province for the benefit of local officials. computer, cash and equipment valued at 35 million kip to the People’s Prosecutor Office
They have been supporting the socio-economic development of the village and in Kaenthao district, Xayaboury province. --Photo Pasaxon
encouraging villagers to grow crops and rear animals.
On the same day, Mr Bounchom, and other provincial officials surveyed the gravel
road in Naxeng which will be upgraded as a concrete road.
It will be 1,800 metres long and 6 m wide. Funds from Kaysone Phomvihane city will
be utilised to construct the road. A contribution of two billion kip from local entrepreneurs
is also expected.
On the same day, Mr Bounchom, and other provincial officials surveyed the broken
water gate of the irrigation system in Naxeng and officials from the Agriculture and
Forestry office were directed to repair it to ensure a continuous water supply to grow crops.
--Savannakhet Radio, May 3

Borikhamxay losses billions of kips

due to natural disasters
Borikhamxay province has incurred losses worth more than 150 billion kip due to natural
disasters in 2023.
Last week, the deputy governor of Borikhamxay, Mr Khamvaen Panyanouvong, and
other provincial officials attended a meeting to evaluate the disaster control measures
Lao Red Cross staff deliver an ambulance, an emergency rescue vehicle and a fire
undertaken in 2023. They also disseminated the plan for 2024.
engine to the Xayaboury province branch of the Red Cross, donated by organisations in
Last year, heavy rainfall continued for many days and many roads in the district was
Laos and the Republic of Korea. The handover ceremony was attended by the Deputy
adversely affected. They were urgently repaired to help smoothen traffic, said the deputy
Governor of Xayaboury province, Mr Phetphixay Sounvilay, Lao Red Cross President
director of the Labour and Social Welfare Department of the province, Mr Oudone
Mr Khamlavanh Chanthalavanh, and other officials. --Photo Lao Red Cross
Khamphian.
He added that the basic infrastructure of Pakkading, Khamkeuth, Viengthong and
Xaychamphon districts was devastated in the floods.
Moreover, 305 families in six villages of Pakkading, 556 families in 35 villages of
Khamkeuth, 12 families in four villages of Viengthong and 44 families in two villages
of Xaychamphon were affected by floods, said Mr Oudone.
Besides, rice fields, cassava plantations and other vegetables grown over 3,824
hectares were damaged. Around 346 fish ponds in seven districts were also hit by the
floods, he added.
Flooding also destroyed 45 roads in seven districts resulting in losses worth 90 billion
kip, said Mr Oudone.
He added that 21 electric poles were broken, many schools in Pakkading, Khamkeuth
and Viengthong incurring losses worth 990 million kip. The health sector in Pakkading,
Khamkeuth and Viengthong was also affected resulting in losses worth two billion kip.
--Borikhamxay Newspaper, May 5

Nala declared drug-free school

in Xayaboury Officials from Savannakhet province’s Health Department begin a campaign to clear
stagnant water and get rid of mosquitoes in Oudomvilay village, Kaysone Phomvihane
Nala Higher Secondary School in Xayaboury district of Xayaboury province has been city, after 151 people in the district contracted dengue fever recently. --Photo Pathetlao
declared as a drug-free school.
Recently, the deputy governor of Xayaboury district, Ms Philavanh Ongkeo, and other
officials attended a ceremony to declare Nala Higher Secondary School as drug-free.
An official from the education and sports office of Xayaboury district, Ms Saylom
Sysavang, informed that students from nine villages have been attending the Nala Higher
Secondary School which has 413 students, including 213 women.
From 2020-2023, officials from the Education and Sports Department of Xayaboury
province coordinated with district officials and the director of Nala Higher Secondary
School to organise activities to contain the drug menace in schools.
They especially targetted high-risk groups that had taken to drugs, she added.
Ms Saylom said that the school also organised a question-and-answer session on
drugs, organised sports competitions and other cultural performances.
She added that Nala is one higher secondary school in the district that has been striving
hard to prevent the spread of drugs and has now been declared as drug-free.
--Pathedlao, May 5

Vientiane Times on CD-ROM
Issues of Vientiane Times from 1994 to May 2024 have
been recorded on CD-ROM. Now available at Vientiane
Times office. Phonpapao Village, Unit 32, Sisattanak
district, Vientiane. P.O. Box: 5723,
Tel: (856-21) 336042, 336045. Fax: (856-21) 336041.
Email: info@vientianetimes.la
The Department of Planning and Cooperation and the National Agriculture and Forestry
Research Institute, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, together with a
representative of Value Network Ventures Advisory Services Pte. Ltd., on Friday sign
a Memorandum of Understanding on a scheme titled “International Cooperation and
Technical Support Rice Resurgence: Cultivation Sustainability in Laos through Alternate
Wetting and Drying”. The project aims to replace traditional rice production methods with
water-saving technology through the ongoing Lao Agriculture Competitiveness Project
taking place in Vientiane and the provinces of Xayaboury, Vientiane, Borikhamxay and
Khammuan to reduce water use and greenhouse gas emissions. The project will run from
June 2024 to 2030 and take place on 30,000 hectares of land, with estimated payments
of US$750,000 a year made to participating farmers.
Vientiane Times Tuesday May 7, 2024 5
World
World news in brief New laws to stem drug dealers, corrupt
officials and dirty money from heating
Russia holds final
rehearsal of Victory
Day Parade on
Moscow’s Red Square
MOSCOW (TASS) – A
final rehearsal of the
up Australia’s real estate market
military parade to mark (ABC) -- Buying a home? A new report from
the 79th anniversary of the Soon you won’t have as Transparency International
Soviet Union’s Victory over much competition from drug Australia reveals millions
Nazi Germany in the 1941- dealers, corrupt officials and of dollars of dirty money
1945 Great Patriotic War criminals with dirty money could be flowing from
took place on Moscow’s thanks to new laws and a the impoverished nation
Red Square on Sunday. boost to enforcement. of Cambodia to Australia
During the final rehearsal, For decades Australia has annually, with gaps in the law
regiments, battalions and lagged the world in anti- making Australia’s real estate
companies of the armed money-laundering legislation, sector an attractive destination
services and military meaning real estate agents, for money laundering.
branches, parade units lawyers, accountants and The report from advisory
from Suvorov infantry dealers in precious metals and firm KordaMentha suggests
and Nakhimov naval, stones didn’t have to report that in 2022, 118 properties
cadet and military musical dodgy transactions or do “due with a combined value of
schools, members of diligence” — checks — on US$110 million were settled
the Young Army youth customers. in Australia by Cambodian
movement, female service Attorney-General Mark foreign persons.
members, Cossacks and a Dreyfus says the reformed To give a sense of the scale,
consolidated military band laws will work to stop dirty Was that newly-bought house in your street paid for with money from criminal activities? in 2020 more than US$516
marched across Red Square. money. -ABC News: Alistair Kroie) million in total funds was
A legendary WWII T-34 “Each year billions of transferred from Cambodia to
tank with the red banner dollars of illicit funds are for criminal elements to use can be linked to criminal began the next stage of Australia. Much of it could be
traditionally led the generated from illegal ill-gotten cash to buy property activity into “clean” income consultation on reforms legitimate financial activity or
mechanised column during activities such as drug in Australia’s already hot that appears disconnected to Australia’s anti-money investment.
the final rehearsal on trafficking, tax evasion, people housing market. from its source. laundering and counter- But the value of money
Moscow’s Red Square. smuggling, cybercrime, arms AUSTRAC estimates that, “For far too long, terrorism financing regime, flowing from Cambodia is
trafficking and other illegal in 2020 alone, criminals linked Australia has been a very aiming to reduce the criminal vastly disproportionate to the
Sierra Nevada records and corrupt practices,” he to China laundered US$1 attractive destination for dirty abuse of our financial system nation’s wealth — just under 1
snowiest day of the says. billion through Australian money,” says Clancy Moore after what the attorney- per cent of Cambodia’s gross
season from brief “As a result of the former real estate. of anti-corruption group general called “nearly a domestic product.
but potent California government’s failure to act, “The reforms are critical in Transparency International decade of inaction by the (The average income in
Australia is falling short of supporting law enforcement Australia. former government”. the authoritarian state is just
storm meeting the standards required partners in their fight against “These laws and the The US$166.4 million US$1,690 annually).
TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) to combat criminal abuse of trans-national, serious money announced in the will be used by the Australian “We know that Cambodia
-- A weekend spring storm our financial system, and at and organised crime, and budget today will make it Transaction Reports and is an incredibly poor country
that drenched the San increased risk of becoming a protecting Australians,” Mr much harder for criminals, Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) with lots of people living in
Francisco Bay area and haven for money laundering.” Dreyfus adds. organised crime gangs and to implement the new laws poverty,” says Mr Moore.
closed Northern California Financial crimes agency Over decades, corrupt officials to park their and to support industries to “But it’s also a regional
mountain highways also set A U S T R A C w i l l g e t campaigners have been calling money in Australia.” meet their obligations. hub for money laundering,
a single-day snowfall record US$166.4 million in the on the federal government to Out of more than 200 This will mean, for human trafficking and the
for the season on Sunday in upcoming federal budget to stem the flow of money from countries, Australia has example, education programs drug trade as well. So that
the Sierra Nevada. help educate the professions criminals who have found been alongside China, Haiti, for real estate agents on what amount of money (coming in)
The wet weather system that fall under what are called a safe home in our property Madagascar and the United to do when they’re confronted is quite concerning.
had mostly moved out “Tranche 2” laws, as it cracks market. States that have not regulated with a suspicious transaction. “It raises serious red flags
of the state by Sunday down on money laundering Here it is “laundered”, Tranche 2 entities. The problem is not as to the source of those
morning, but officials that has given a helping hand converted from funds that Last week the government theoretical. funds.”
warned that roads would
remain slick after around
two feet (60 centimeters) Cuba’s visa-free policy for Chinese nationals leads to
rocketing tourism searches
of snow fell in some areas
of the Sierra.

Nearly 2,500 people
arrested at pro-
Palestinian rallies
at colleges and
universities across US
(Turkiye News Agency)
– Nearly 2,500 people
have been arrested at
pro-Palestinian rallies at
college and university
campuses across the US,
according to media outlets.
In a report released Sunday
by CNN, the number of
arrests made since April 18
has surpassed 2,200, while
the numbers released in a
similar report by Fox News
show the total of arrests to
be more than 2,400.
Demonstrations are
expected to continue over
the coming weeks as
graduation ceremonies take
place, and campus officials
are adding extra police
security, or in some cases,
cancelling commencement
ceremonies altogether.
(Global Times) -- As a result
of the Cuban government’s
Saturday announcement of a
visa-free policy starting this
month for Chinese citizens
holding ordinary passports,
searches for related tourism
products on Chinese travel
platforms surged 40 percent,
and direct flights between
China and Cuba are set to
resume soon.
The announcement was
made by Cuban Tourism
Minister Juan Carlos Garcia
during the 42nd Cuban
International Tourism Fair
(FITCuba 2024), which was
held at the seaside resort
of Cayo Coco in Cuba’s
province of Ciego de Avila.
Garcia also said that
China will be the guest of
honor of the Cuban Tourism
Festival 2025 and that direct
flights between China and
Cuba will resume on May
17.
Half an hour after
the visa-free policy was
announced, searches for
keywords such as Cuban
hotels and flights increased
by more than 40 percent
on travel platform Ctrip
compared with the previous
day, the leading domestic
online travel agency told the
Global Times on Sunday.
Residents from Beijing,
Shanghai, and provinces
including Guangdong,
Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Fujian
showed a very high level
of enthusiasm regarding
information about Cuba,
according to Ctrip.
Currently, there are no
direct flights between China
and Cuba, but Air China
has scheduled to resume
the Beijing-Havana direct
flight, the only direct route
between China and Cuba,
on May 17.
According to data from
Chinese travel platform
Qunar, the current price for
a one-way Beijing-Havana
ticket is around 8,200 yuan
(US$1,132), with two flights to its size and its status as a outside world, enhance
per week, while the return developing island country, its trade relations, and
trip costs about 5,700 yuan. enhancing connectivity contribute to consolidating
At a business forum held and strengthening its development basis, Song
in Beijing in November its integration into said. It also helps mitigate
2023, Cuban Prime Minister global value chains are the impact of the decades-
Manuel Marrero Cruz called particularly crucial for its long US embargo and
to establish direct flights development. enhances its economic ties
between Beijing and Havana The resumption of the with the rest of the world
as soon as possible to flight route will facilitate as an opposition against
facilitate trade and business. stronger connections hegemony and unilateral
He said that both sides had between Cuba and the sanctions.
agreed to push forward
bilateral cooperation deals
in a comprehensive way.
The resumption of
the flight between China
and Cuba is of great
significance in promoting
South-South cooperation
and advancing cooperation
between China and Cuba,
Song Wei, a professor with
the School of International
Relations and Diplomacy
at Beijing Foreign Studies
University, told the Global
Ti m e s o n S u n d a y. H e
noted that since Cuba is
facing greater fragility due
6 Tuesday May 7, 2024 Vientiane Times

Vientiane Times
Read more news at www.vientianetimes.org.la
Southeast Asia needs
to accelerate renewable
energy transition: Experts
SINGAPORE (The Straits
Times) – South-east Asia has
to speed up in building its
renewable energy capacities
in order to hit the region’s
net-zero targets, experts said
on April 4.
The region’s annual
renewable capacity additions
have to increase by seven to
12 times for solar and onshore
wind power, as compared
with the region’s annual
average from 2018 to 2021,
said McKinsey & Company
senior partner Vishal Agarwal
at an event to discuss a report
on South-east Asia’s transition
to renewables.
The report was
published by the Economic
Development Board (EDB)
and led by McKinsey, with
Mr Agarwal as one of its
co-authors. It was launched
at 2023’s United Nations
climate change conference,
or COP28.
“It is important for South-
east Asia to move more
aggressively on the topic of
renewables,” he said, noting
that the region currently
makes up about 5 per cent of
global emissions.
This is expected to
double to 10 percent by
2050, not because the region
is increasing its carbon
emissions, but because it
is not decarbonising fast
enough, he added.
The report noted that
South-east Asia significantly
lags behind other regions’
markets, because it only
recently started adding
renewables capacity at scale.
The region has also
historically capitalised on
coal and gas to produce cheap
power from subsidised fossil
fuels, the report added. There
are efforts to retire these coal
power plants early, but the
transition will still take time
to take effect.
Business
EDB executive vice-
president Lim Wey-Len
said in his opening speech:
“South-east Asia is now at
a critical cusp of growth for
renewables.” He added that
the International Energy
Agency has projected that
the clean energy investments
in South-east Asia will need
to quadruple by 2030.
He was speaking to
an audience of about 100
industry leaders at Andaz
Singapore hotel in Bugis.
Mr Agarwal said
the region has significant
renewables potential. Yet,
over the past five years, it has
attracted the second-lowest
level of investments in solar
photovoltaic and wind power
globally, higher only than sub-
Saharan Africa. He added that
the region is very diverse, with
economic nuances between
countries and different areas
having different policies. One
issue is that power tariffs are
among the lowest globally.
“Many of the governments
are trying to balance the energy
transition with affordability
and with energy security…
so they’re not just struggling
with one (issue) but they need
to balance many of these
complexities,” he said.
“The second reason is the
tight, regulated framework.
If you look at most of the
countries in the region, it’s
very tightly regulated; in many
cases, it’s a monopoly, at least
on the transmission and the
distribution side. Although
there is more deregulation on
the generation side, it’s still
not fully there.”
He added that project
developers have to build local
ecosystems. They also have to
work with stakeholders to find
innovative solutions.
Meanwhile, Singapore
can also play a role in the
region’s transition, although
it is constrained by land size,
Mr Agarwal said.
Opportunities for
Singapore are on the side
of financing and research
and development, he added
in a media roundtable after
the event.
EDB’s Mr Lim also
outlined three ways that
Singapore can aid the region’s
renewables transition. For
one thing, it can be a reliable
regional hub for such projects,
he said.
“First, Singapore is well
connected to the project
opportunities in South-
east Asia and the wider
Asia-Pacific region. We
have also announced the
target to import up to four
gigawatts of low-carbon
electricity by 2035 and
have signed memorandums
of understanding with
neighbouring countries such
as Vietnam and Indonesia
to advance cooperation on
renewables import,” he said
in his speech.
For instance, Sembcorp
Industries has partnered
a Vietnamese company
to develop offshore wind
farms in Vietnam and plans
to import up to 1.2 gigawatts
of low-carbon electricity to
Singapore.
Singapore also serves
as the Asia-Pacific
headquarters to more than
100 international and local
clean energy companies, Mr
Lim said.
It can also be a green
financing hub, he added,
with the Monetary Authority
of Singapore announcing
the formation of a blended
finance platform at COP28
to mobilise up to US$5
billion (S$6.7 billion) of
capital across three key
themes of energy transition,
green investments and clean
technologies.
Consumers expect to spend more with the implementation of the revised VAT rate.
Business entities begin
implementing revised VAT rates
Times Reporters
Many individuals,
enterprises and business
entities in Laos have
begun implementing the
government’s directive on
the revised Value-Added
Tax (VAT) rate of 10 percent
that became effective from
the beginning of May.
The new VAT rate,
which has been increased
from 7 percent, aims to
support the government’s
efforts to enhance state
budget revenues and to
back the socio-economic
development of the country.
Following a notification
issued on April 23 by the
Ministry of Finance to
ensure the implementation
of the Presidential Decree
No 003, issued on March 19,
regarding the revision of the
VAT rate, enterprises have
made changes for collecting
VAT at 10 percent. This has
resulted in an increase in the
prices of products.
For example, the Lao
Brewery Company (LBC),
one of the country’s leading
beverage companies, has
begun implementing the
new VAT rate by increasing
the prices of several
beverages, soft drinks and
other products.
A number of well-known
coffee shops in Vientiane
have modified their listed
prices based on the revised
VAT rate of 10 percent.
The revised VAT rate
applies to a wide range
of businesses and goods,
including imported
products, general services,
and usage of electricity and
water.
The recent notification
stated that individuals,
entities and organisations
involved in business
operations related to
the VAT system need to
improve various systems.
For example, a point of sale
(POS) transaction must be
done within this month.
In addition, the Ministry
of Finance, acting on behalf
of the government, directed
the Customs Department
to improve the ASYCUDA
system. It also instructed
7
Tuesday May 7, 2024
the Taxation Department
to improve the tax revenue
management information
system (TAXRIS) to ensure
that these mechanisms
comply with the decision to
collect VAT at the new rate
of 10 percent.
Meanwhile, the Taxation
Department in Vientiane
and provincial taxation
offices have been directed
to disseminate information
to build clear understanding
about the VAT regime
among the public.
Following the increase
in the VAT rate, some local
residents have expressed
concern about the increase
in prices of goods and
services, especially since the
prices of consumer goods in
various markets are already
high, and the inflation rate
continues to fluctuate all
the time.
as of May 6, 2024
21.292 21.393
0,9325 0,9512
651,51 658,10
22.793 22.022
2.975 3.004
8 Business Tuesday May 7, 2024
A bird’s eye view of a warehouse.
DP World to manage
Savannakhet SEZ Zone C
Times Reporters
DP World will manage
140,456 square metres of
land, including warehousing
space, in Savannakhet
Special Economic Zone
(SEZ) Zone C.
The company has
completed the acquisition
of Savan Logistics which
operates the first SEZ in
Laos, the Savannakhet dry
port in the Savannakhet
Special Economic Zone
(SEZ).
Situated on the west end
of the 1,450km-long East-
West Economic Corridor,
which links Laos, Cambodia,
Myanmar, Thailand and
Vietnam, the 140,456 square
metre dry port is utilised by
key regional cargo owners
and logistics companies
to connect various supply
chains along the corridor.
Heat of price war shows no
sign of cooling down
HANOI (Vietnam News)
-- Amid fierce competition,
the price war is heating up,
requiring businesses to
deliver added value and
experiences to customers in
order to retain them.
FPT Digital Retail (FPT
Retail) posted a positive profit
pre-tax in the first quarter of
the year, which is outstanding
content in the company’s
consolidated business
performance report.
In the first three months,
its consolidated revenue
reached over VND9 trillion
(US$355.7 million), a 17
percent increase year-on-year,
accomplishing 24 percent of
the yearly target.
Long Chau pharmacy chain
contributed more than VND5.5
trillion, up 68 percent from last
year, accounting for 61 percent
of the company’s total revenue.
For the FPT Shop chain, the
recent product restructuring
efforts have resulted in a 3
percent gain in gross profit
compared to the same period
last year. And thanks to
accessing loans at favourable
--Photo Savannakhet Special Economic Zone, Zone C
It also boasts about
23,000 square metres of
warehousing facilities,
including an 11,000 square
metre bonded area.
In addition, DP World
will manage cross-
border transport, freight
forwarding, and integrated
logistics solutions.
Glen Hilton, CEO &
Managing Director, Asia
Pacific, DP World, said
“This is an important
move for us to boost the
connectivity of the region.
The dry port is strategically
located close to our existing
portfolio of ports, terminals,
and landside facilities along
the East-West Economic
Corridor, in Thailand and
Vietnam.”
“We will extend our
expertise and resources to
enhance the infrastructure of
the dry port, capitalising on
interest rates, financial
expenses have decreased
by 50 percent on-year.
As a result, FPT Retail
achieved a profit before tax
of VND89 billion during the
period, marking 43 times
higher than last year and
accomplishing 71 percent of
the 2024 plan. This is also the
highest result for FPT Retail
in the past five quarters.
The retailer’s online revenue
witnessed a 10 percent growth
from last year to nearly VND1.6
trillion.The achievements bring
some relief to FPT Retail’s
leadership, but they still have
concerns due to the painful
lessons from the price war in
2023. The company suffered
losses as a result of joining the
battle. In 2023, FPT Shop’s
revenue reached nearly
VNĐ32 trillion, leading to
significant gross profit losses
in the billions dong.
During a recent Annual
General Meeting of
Shareholders, the company’s
CEO, Hoàng Trung Kiên
acknowledged the difficulties
faced in the business of
its geographical advantages
to propel trade forward for
our customers.”
“ M o s t i m p o r t a n t l y,
we want to enhance the
economic conditions of
communities which rely on
this vital trade corridor for
their daily livelihoods,” he
added.
According to the Asian
Development Bank, Laos’
economy is expected to
grow by about 4 percent in
2024, enabled by strategic
partnerships and business-
friendly policies forged by
the government.
The country’s
chairmanship of the ASEAN
Summit later this year is
expected to provide Laos
with additional international
exposure, promoting
investment and spurring
cross-border cooperation
with its neighbours.
items like smartphones
and computers due to the
prolonged price war. As a
consequence, 30 stores of FPT
Retail were closed in 2023,
and around 50 more closures
are anticipated this year due
to inefficiency. The intense
price competition with rivals
caused a significant decline
in FPT Retail’s gross profit
margin, reaching a low point
of 8 percent in the second
quarter of 2023.
Huge losses in lowering
prices race
The price war is believed
to have started when the
Mobile World Investment
Corporation launched the
“Too Cheap” campaign in
April 2023. Television and
household appliance prices
were slashed by up to 50
percent, with some items sold
at extremely low prices.
In response, FPT Shop
quickly adopted the slogan
“Wherever it’s too cheap, it’s
cheaper here”, while other
retail chains like CellphoneS
and Viet Mobile Tech also had
to enter the competition.
Smooth timing sets up
Philippine sugar sector for
a sweet win over El Niño
MANILA (Philippine
Daily Inquirer/ANN) --
Sugar production in the
Philippines surpassed the
initial estimate of the Sugar
Regulatory Administration
(SRA) for the current crop
year despite the devastating
damage of the El Niño-
induced drought on major
sugar-producing areas.
As of April 14, the
volume of sugar produced
totaled 1.86 million metric
tons (MT) for crop year
2023-2024 that began in
September last year, based
on data from the Philippine
Sugar Millers Association
(PSMA).
SRA Administrator
Pablo Luis Azcona said
the agency was “happy”
that output surpassed 1.85
million MT, which was
also a 3.57-percent increase
from the 1.799 million MT
recorded for crop year 2022-
2023.
“Higher production
helps allay uncertainties in
the supply of sugar in the
country,” PSMA president
Terence Uygongco said in
a statement.
Azcona said adjusting the
harvest cycle to September 1
from last year’s schedule of
August to improve yield has
proven beneficial. The SRA
would maintain the original
schedule of starting the
milling season on Octocber
1 “to further improve our
cane quality.”
According to Azcona,
the developments came
despite the loss of a planting
area in Batangas province.
It can be recalled that
Central Azucarera Don
Pedro Inc., a unit of listed
Roxas Holdings Inc.,
permanently ceased its
sugar business in Nasugbu
town on February 28 due
to serious business losses.
It has since then hinted at
Indonesia’s protectionist policies
could contravene OECD membership
JAKARTA (The Jakarta
Post/ANN) -- Indonesia has
made further progress toward
joining the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) after
the country received its
own accession road map to
joining the club, but analysts
warn there will be a price to
pay despite the benefits.
OECD secretary-general
Mathias Cormann formally
delivered the accession
road map to Coordinating
Economic Minister
Airlangga Hartarto in Paris
on Thursday.
The road map sets
out the terms, conditions
and process for accession
and reflects priority areas
reviving its operations if a
viable business opportunity
arises.
Azcona said the SRA
recorded a 3,000-hectare
increase in planted area
as more farmers were
encouraged to cultivate
sugarcane “mainly because
of the very good farmgate
prices from past year ’s
crop.”
“We were also lucky that
El Nino only hit the tail end
of the harvestable cane, and
the effect was negated by the
increase in planted area,”
he said.
“However, this El Nino
hit from November 2023 to
present has greatly damaged
the planted cane for the
October 2024 harvest, and
so far in Batangas, South
Negros, and Mindanao, the
October 2024 harvestable
cane is suffering,” he added.
Azcona expressed hope
that rains would come soon
to sustain improvements in
local sugar production until
the next milling season.
In light of President
Marcos’ Administrative
Order No. 20, the PSMA said
it has always extended its
support to the government’s
importation programs with
the caveat that these should
not affect local production.
As of April 14, the volume of sugar produced totaled 1.86
million metric tons for crop year 2023-2024 that began in
September last year, based on data from the Philippine Sugar
Millers Association. --Photo Philippine Daily Inquirer
identified by OECD
members that are required
for accession.
“The accession road map
sets out the path for Indonesia
to achieve alignment with
OECD standards and best
practices, anchoring a
reform agenda in support
of its vision of becoming
an advanced economy by
2045,” Cormann said in a
press statement on Thursday.
During the ensuing
accession process, Indonesia
will face a series of technical
reviews that cover open
trade and investment, public
governance, integrity and
anticorruption efforts, as
well as effective protection
of the environment and
Vientiane Times
In AO 20, the Departments
of Agriculture, Finance and
Trade were instructed to
streamline policies related
to the importation of
agriculture products and to
remove non-tariff barriers.
“All we ask is that the
volume to be imported is
the deficiency in production
including buffer stocks for
contingencies and scheduled
arrival of imports so as
not to coincide with sugar
milling,” Uygongco said.
The Sugar Council—an
alliance of three sugar farmer
federations accounting
for 67 percent of the
country’s output—called for
“appropriate safety nets” and
“effective competitiveness
enhancement measures”
to attain the directive’s
objectives.
“The removal of the
SRA’s existing importation
rules and regulations,
including its say on relevant
fees and charges, would
constitute a loss of SRA’s
regulatory authority and
revenues,” it said.
The group also urged
the government to issue
another order outlining the
necessary safety nets to
make the sugar industry
and the agriculture sector
competitive.
action on the climate, among
many other areas of public
policy. At the end of the
process, the OECD council
will come to a decision on
whether to invite Indonesia
to accede to membership.
The OECD is known as
the “rich-country club” with
its state members representing
80 percent of the world’s trade
and investment.
OECD membership is
expected to bring many
benefits especially in
investment and trade as its
members adopt some of “best
policies and practices”, with
which business players are
familiar and needed when
conducting investment or
trade.
Vientiane Times Tuesday May 7, 2024 9
10 Tuesday May 7, 2024 Vientiane Times
Feature

Capturing the magic of

sunrise in Vangvieng
Keoxomphou Sakdavong

A
s the sun peeked over
the horizon, painting
the sky with hues of
gold and pink, from
my vantage point at the Pha Hor
Kham viewpoint I immersed
myself in the tranquility of the
early morning and the panoramic
views spread below me.
The viewpoint is the summit
of one of the many limestone
karst outcrops scattered around
Vangvieng district in Vientiane
province, which tower like
brooding sentinels and cast long
shadows over the verdant valley
below. Visitors stop to venerate a statue of Buddha on the way down from the
Their jagged peaks were viewpoint.
shrouded in a soft, ethereal
haze, creating an otherworldly
atmosphere that gave visitors the
impression they had entered a
realm untouched by time.
The lush greenery that carpeted
the valley floor glistened with dew,
with the green grass and leafy trees Enjoying the early morning view as the sun crests a jagged limestone peak.
shimmering in the soft morning
light. location, one topped with a model paintings of the Buddha.
In the distance we could see airplane and the other bearing a To catch the morning sunrise,
colourful hot air balloons gliding statuesque winged white horse, we awoke at 5am and walked up
through the pink-tinged early with a short walk between them. the hill, which was not too high,
morning sky. It was fun to sit on the plane taking about 30 minutes to reach
As I watched the sun climb and strike poses as we smiled the top.
higher, bathing the landscape in and joked against the stunning In order to be up at the crack
a golden light, I became aware of backdrop of the limestone peaks, of dawn, we camped at the base
my friends around me, who were which provided some great photo of the hill the night before. The
also observing the sunrise and opportunities. site manager provided us with
posing for photos. Each of these viewpoints some essential cooking utensils.
We had brought a small gas has slightly different aspects, There are also toilets and
stove to boil water so we could while there is also a wooden bathing rooms, while the staff
have hot drinks. One friend had hut in which to sit and enjoy the stayed at their small shop as a
made some of her special cookies, dramatic landscape. security measure, so that we
which were greatly appreciated After making the most of this were not alone.
along with the tea and coffee that magical environment and filling The site is accessible by
warmed us in the chilly morning our lungs with fresh air and our car and there is ample parking
air. It’s noticed that our trip was stomachs with healthy snacks space. It is about a 25km or
during December so the weather while sipping tea and coffee, 30-minute drive from the town
is quite cool in the morning. we headed back down the hill, of Vangvieng, in the same
There are actually two making several stops including direction as the popular blue
connected viewpoints at this at caves with Buddha statues and lagoon swimming spots. Fabulous morning views from Pha Hor Kham viewpoint in Vangvieng.

Visitors pose with a model of a light aircraft and a winged white horse that have been installed at the viewpoint.
Vientiane Times Tuesday May 7, 2024 Feature 11

Contemplating the largest rice

paddy field in the northwest
HANOI (Vietnam News/
ANN) -- Besides its
economic value of yielding
the renowned Đien Bien
rice brand, the paddy field
field also holds historical
significance intertwined
with the Đien Bien Phu
Campaign.
Muong Thanh rice paddy
field, the largest of its kind
in northwestern Vietnam,
spans over 140sq.km across
communes and wards in
Đien Bien District and
Đien Bien Phu City in the
northern province of Đien
Bien.
Besides its economic
value of yielding the
renowned Đien Bien rice
brand, the paddy field also
holds historical significance
intertwined with the Đien
Bien Phu Campaign. The serene scenery on the Muong Thanh rice field.
Muong Thanh paddy
field has nurtured the lives of following months, the field of fierce and resilient prosperous Mường Thanh cu, nep nuong (sticky rice), The average annual
the local ethnic communities became a stronghold of resistance, Vietnamese rice field. lut do (red rice), lut den production of the entire
for generations. However, the French colonial forces, soldiers forced the French After 70 years, the (black rice), nep than (black field reaches over 47,000
in November 1953, when witnessing the fierce battles forces to surrender and ravages of war have receded. glutinuous rice), and tám tonnes, accounting for 79.94
thousands of French soldiers between the Vietnamese leave the Mường Thanh Today, the field has become thơm (fragrant rice). per cent of the district’s total
parachuted into the heart soldiers and the French rice field, as well as a vast rice granary in the According to Chairman rice production.
of the Muong Thanh area colonists. During the Đien withdraw from Đien Bien northwest region. of the People’s Committee “Mưong Thanh rice
to seize Đien Bien, the Bien Phu Campaign in Phu. Benefiting from of Đien Bien District, Đien field has provided an
locals were forced into 1954, it transformed into Following the victory of favourable natural Bien Province, Bui Hai abundant source of food
concentration camps while a fortified battleground, the resounding campaign, conditions and climate, the Binh, the rice cultivation and a prosperous life for
their properties were looted with numerous trenches a movement was launched Mường Thanh rice field is area in Muong Thanh rice the people of Đien Bien.
and the rice fields were and bunkers scattered to fill bomb craters, clear renowned nationwide for field covers 3,990 hectares, Now, we are focusing on
devastated and abandoned. throughout. landmines and collect its delicious and famous with an average yield of promoting the Bien rice
Throughout the After 56 days and nights barbed wire to restore the rice varieties such as seng 6,3 tonnes per hectare. brand even further,” he said.

Vientiane
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12 Tuesday May 7, 2024
Opinion
Increasing people’s income
key to holiday economy
BEIJING (China Daily/ to take more concrete
ANN) -- As expected, actions to bail out private
both the number of trips enterprises that are the
Chinese tourists made and largest job creators in the
the tourism revenue they country. The focus should
generated during the five- be on helping them increase
day May Day holiday that their net profit so that the
ended on Sunday were income of workers can be
higher than that of last year, raised. Private enterprises
as shown by data released by are being squeezed by rising
the Ministry of Culture and prices of raw materials in
Tourism. But the growth of the world market due to
their personal spending on geopolitical tensions and the
average is not that obvious. depreciation of the renminbi,
That means although the and falling producer prices
people have demonstrated due to weak demand at
a high desire to travel, their home.
spending power has not The government should
yet recovered due to the also pay attention to
impacts of the slow-to- improving the experience of
recover job market and the tourists during the holidays,
weak growth in personal as more people now choose
disposable income. to stay at home to enjoy five
To better tap into the days of slow life to avoid the
potential of the nation’s
consumption, the
crowds of holiday goers.
If this problem cannot
government still needs be effectively addressed,
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Vientiane Times
the effects of the holiday
economy the policymakers
desire to tap will not be fully
unleashed.
The swelling of the
middle-income group and
the fast development of
infrastructure mean people’s
expectations of their holiday
are drastically different from
the late 1990s when the
Golden Week holidays were
launched.
Visitors enjoy a lion dance performance in Haikou, Hainan province, on May 4, 2024. Both
Although people are Chinese cities and overseas destinations recorded a large number of Chinese tourists
able to travel farther in the during the five-day May Day holiday.
comfort of their own cars,
or by high-speed trains, large throngs of people. aside from pushing and more freedom and space
they have to plan their trip Anyone having experienced shoving for hours. to plan their leisure trips
meticulously to try and waiting in long lines to That being said, a will only better stimulate
ensure a hassle-free journey enter a tourist attraction or flexible holiday system can consumption and promote
there and back. to use a public toilet will be introduced. As long as the the development of the
However, even if they are know that becomes the most people have enough money tourism industry.
lucky enough to avoid any memorable part of the trip to spend, to grant them --China Editorial Desk
hitches along the way, they
will still find what awaits
them in the majority of How to access Vientiane Times
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Vientiane Times
How to improve the well-being of older
people in Asia and the Pacific
Asia and the Pacific is
aging rapidly. Older people,
those aged 60 and above,
accounted for 13.5 percent
of the region’s population
in 2022. That figure is
expected to nearly double to
25.2 percent by 2050. Such
unprecedented population
aging is happening at
lower incomes than when
advanced economies faced
such demographic change.
The sheer speed and scale
of aging, coupled with the
heightened vulnerability of
older persons, underscores
the urgent need for the region
to promote the well-being of
its aging population.
Four interconnected
dimensions are important for
old-age well-being, namely
health, productive work,
economic security, and
social engagement. Health
is central since it can keep
older people productive,
economically secure, and
socially engaged. The four
dimensions are closely
linked. Some are inherently
mutually reinforcing
such as health and social
engagement while others
can create unintended
c o n s equences s uch as
the work disincentives of
generous pension benefits.
Economic and social
progress in the region has
sharply reduced poverty,
tangibly improved the
quality of life, and
significantly extended
longevity. Yet the well-
being of current and future
cohorts of older people is at
risk from multiple threats.
For instance, 57 percent
had at least one diagnosed
noncommunicable disease,
31 percent had elevated
depressive symptoms, 40
percent had no pension,
either contributory or
social, and 16 percent felt
lonely most of the time.
As such, older people in
Asia and the Pacific face
vulnerabilities across
all four key dimensions
of old-age well-being.
Furthermore, a yawning
inequality separates older
persons in health, productive
work, economic security,
and social engagement.
More specifically, well-
being in old age is impeded
by pervasive informal
employment and stark
gender inequality. Very
few informal workers in
the region enjoy protection
from disabling illness or
injury. Informal workers
enjoy little or no paid leave,
Tuesday May 7, 2024 Opinion 13
disability allowance, or
pension or other option to
prepare financially for old
age. Many have little choice
but to work as long as their
health permits.
Women can expect to
live longer than men but
are more prone to disease
and thus insecurity in old
age. Gender inequality has
narrowed in some areas but
persists institutionally, such
as in pension systems that
tie benefits to contribution
periods without allowing for
the greater family demands
that cultural norms place
on women. Time spent on
housework and family care
constrains women’s economic
opportunities and leaves them
vulnerable in old age.
A lifelong, life-cycle,
population-wide approach
is needed to meet the aging
challenge.
Old-age well-being is The region’s rapidly aging population faces challenges related to lower incomes and
thus a work in progress in accelerating demographic changes. Addressing health, economic security, and social
the region. Therefore, a engagement is crucial to improve the well-being of older persons.
key policy agenda across
the region is to ensure the for retirement, and family to plan and prepare for old population with autonomy
well-being of older people and social ties. Policies for age. They can disseminate and ability to offer a large
by helping them to age well. aging well should therefore information and raise silver dividend, the economic
Well-being in old age can actively promote healthy awareness to help workers and social contributions made
be enhanced by individuals’ lifestyles, lifelong learning of all ages set realistic by older people.
lifetime investment in their to update skills and learn expectations about future Future generations of
own health, education, new ones, and long-term retirement needs, taking into older people in Asia and the
skills, financial preparedness financial planning for account that future policies Pacific will live healthier
retirement. may change the retirement and longer lives and be more
Promoting well-being age and pension terms. They educated. To leverage their
in old age has fiscal costs, can also support initiatives full potential to the benefit
but countermeasures that help firms and workers of their own well-being and
can help contain them. themselves develop career the broader society, it is time
In particular, public and plans and retirement paths for governments to take
private investment in human in anticipation of longer action to improve all four
capital—beginning in the working lives. dimensions of well-being
cradle with preventative A lifelong, life-cycle, in old age.
and curative health care, population-wide approach If they do, people of all
followed by lifelong is needed to meet the aging ages can aspire to live well
education—can generate challenge. Evidence lends and age well. About the
over time bigger silver strong support to a three- --Authors: Aiko Kikkawa,
dividends as healthy and pronged approach to aging Senior Economist, ADB
educated older people well: A lifelong approach Economic Analysis and
become more productive. encourages continuous Operational Support
The silver dividend or investment in human capital Division, Economic
additional productivity throughout people’s lives. A Research and Development
that could be gained from life-cycle approach provides Impact Department and
untapped work capacity adequate intervention in Donghyun Park, Economic
among older persons is accordance with age-specific Advisor (Strategic
substantial and could equal needs. And population-wide Knowledge Initiatives),
up to 1.5 percent of gross outreach targets people of ADB Office of the Chief
domestic product for some all ages. Economist and Director
economies in the region. Comprehensive aging General, Economic
Governments must do policies can ensure a Research and Development
more to empower people healthy and productive older Impact Department
14 Tuesday May 7, 2024 Vientiane Times
Entertainment
[Today’s K-pop] Sunmi to
drop single next month
KOREA (The Korea Herald/
ANN) -- Sunmi will release
a self-written single in June,
agency Abyss Company
said Friday.
She finished shooting
a music video in Croatia,
it added. The songstress
uploaded several pictures
and wrote “Rainy Croatia” on
her social media last month.
The upcoming single
comes about eight months
after her eighth digital single
“Stranger.”
Cosplayers pose for a photo at the relaunch of Howl’s Moving Castle in Shanghai. --Photo The songstress debuted
provided to China Daily as a solo act in 2013, about 3
1/2 years after she suspended

Howl’s Moving Castle activities as a member of

group Wonder Girls. She
rejoined the group in 2015

gets new release in

when it rolled out its third (Credit: Abyss Company)
studio album “Reboot,” but
the quartet disbanded in for four weeks in a row. Lucy to go live in Tokyo
The EP sold over 400,000 next week

Chinese cinema
CHINA (China Daily/
ANN) -- Howl’s Moving
Castle, an animated fantasy
film directed by Hayao
Miyazaki, had its restored
version re-released in
IMAX in Yonghua Cinema
in Shanghai’s Xujiahui area.
The 2004 film won the
Oscar nomination for the
best animated film and was
one of the most financially
successful Japanese films
in history. It was restored
and will be introduced in
Chinese cinemas for the
first time on April 30.
This is also the first time
the film launched in IMAX
cinema.
Based on a novel by
British writer Diana Wynne
Jones, the movie tells about a
young milliner’s adventures
with the wizard Howl in
his magical castle after she
was transformed into an old
woman by a witch.
Junichi Nishioka,
executive director of Studio
Ghibli, the production
company founded by
Miyazaki, said at the
Shanghai premiere of the
IMAX version of the film
that Miyazaki enjoyed the
creative process of the
movie and Howl’s Moving
Castle was one of his most
satisfactory creations.
Miyazaki was very
concerned about how
audiences respond to each
of his film. “If people give
very positive responses to
a movie, it would give him
the strength to carry on to
the next,” he said.
Studio Ghibli’s latest
production, The Boy and
the Heron was released in
Japan in 2023 and entered
Chinese cinemas on April
3 this year.
2017. As a soloist, she has
released three EPs, a single
album and eight digital
singles.
Babymonster adds date
to fan meet tour
Babymonster will greet
fans in Bangkok for another
day next month, said label
YG Entertainment on Friday.
The rookie girl group is
set to visit five Asian cities
for its first fan meet tour
“Babymonster Presents: See
You There” which begins
in Tokyo on May 11. Next
month it will resume the
event in Jakarta and head
over to Singapore and Taipei
before wrapping up in the
Thai capital on June 30.
Meanwhile, the seven-
member act came in first
copies in the first week
and set a record for a debut
album from a K-pop girl
group.
TWS to return in June:
report
TWS will bring out a new
album in June, according
to a local media report
on Friday. Agency Pledis
Entertainment confirmed
that it is gearing up for a
return, adding that TWS will
unveil a pre-release early
next month.
Earlier this month, the
bandmates were spotted in
Hong Kong before a picture
of them standing together
surfaced online.
The band of six debuted
in January with the EP
Four-man band Lucy
will perform in Tokyo on
Monday to a sold-out crowd,
according to agency Mystic
Story on Friday.
It is the band’s first
standalone gig in the
city and is part of its first
international tour “Written
by Flower” which began in
Seoul in March. The four
members visited Macau
and Taipei, and the Tokyo
gig will be the last of the
Asian leg of the tour. They
will fly over to Toronto later
this month and hop around
19 more cities in North
America.
The band debuted in
2020 with the single “Dear.”
and will release its first vinyl

Taapsee Pannu set for place on a television music

chart show with “Sheesh”
barely one month after its
“Sparkling Blue,” and the
focus track “Plot Twist”
topped a series of major
album “Chapter of Youth”
on May 8 to mark the fourth
anniversary of its debut.

double release in 2024 official debut. “Sheesh” is

the main track from its first
EP “Babymons7er” and
INDIA(The Statesman/ has stayed on Billboard’s
ANN) -- et ready for double Global 200 Chart and
the dose of Taapsee Pannu Global excl. the US Chart
magic in 2024! The talented
music charts at home.
The debut EP sold more
than 500,000 units and the
single has stayed strong
on the charts after three
months.
The album will consist
of 10 tracks including
“Flowering,” which fronted
its debut single album and
is climbing back up music
charts recently.

actress is all set to grace the
silver screen with not one,
but two intriguing projects
lined up for release this year.
Following the roaring success
of ‘Haseen Dilruba’, which
left audiences hooked and
critics raving, Taapsee is
gearing up to wow us once
more with ‘Phir Aayi Haseen
Dilruba’ and ‘Khel Khel
Mein’, promising two distinct
cinematic experiences.
In ‘Phir Aayi Haseen
Dilruba’, Taapsee teams up
once again with Vikrant Massey
for the highly-anticipated sequel
to the gripping thriller. After
the nail-biting suspense of the
first installment, expectations
are sky-high for this one. With
Taapsee leading the charge,
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Vientiane Times Tuesday May 7, 2024 15
Classified
Section VI. BIDDING ANNOUNCEMENT ຫໍພພ
ິ ຕ
ິ ະພັນສິລະປະລາວ
BIDDING No. KOICALAO-2024-1-1

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Office in Lao PDR invites all interested companies to
Lao Art Museum
participate in the process of Open International Competitive Bidding for the is Purchase of Goods(Furniture) for Open everyday
the RMNCH and Nutrition Training Center of Luangnamtha Province (Project Title: The Quality and Accessibility
Improvement and Developing Community-based Programs for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health ໂຮງພິມ ມັນທາຕຸລາດ at 8:00 am - 17:00 pm
(RMNCH) in Northern Lao PDR) Tel: 030 5140717
Manthaturath Printing Press
Bid description
● Title of the Bid: Purchase of Goods(Furniture) for the RMNCH and Nutrition Training Center of B. Nongbouathong,
Luangnamtha Province (Project Title: The Quality and Accessibility Improvement and Developing Community-
based Programs for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) in Northern Lao PDR)
Sikhottabong district,
● Place of the Bid: KOICA office in Lao PDR Vientiane Lao PDR
● Place of delivery of the Bid proposal: KOICA office in Lao PDR. 3rd Floor, Vientiane Plaza Hotel, Sailom
Road, Hatsady-neua Village, Chanthabouly District,Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR Tel: 217 243,
● Place of delivery of the good: Luang Namtha Provincial Hospital, Nongbourvieng Village, Namtha District,
LuangNamtha Province
Moblie: 020 55516138
● Duration of the contract: 40 days from the signing of the contract
● Scope of work: Purchasing of Furniture (Office Desk, Chair, Bookshelf, Table, Sofa, etc.) and delivery to a
designated location (the supplier is responsible for all expenses including transportation insurance, customs
clearance fee, etc.), provision of manuals in Lao language, management training for the users, and repairing of
defects for 1 year.
● Maximum limit of budget: USD40,496 (VAT excluded).
ບໍລິສັດ ເອຊີອີ ທີ່ປຶກສາ
●
Type of Bid
A.C.E Consultancy Co., Ltd
ດາວວອນ ພະຈັນທະວົງ
Open competitive bidding
Technical specifications of the goods would be presented in the Section 2 of the bidding
documents
Selection and announcement of the successful bidder Daovone PHACHANTHAVONG
●
●
Qualifying offers with the lowest price will be preferred.
The winning bidder will be the one who offers the lowest price (not less than 84.245% of the budget allocated (Director)
for the bidding) and obtains an evaluation score of 85 points or more. 10/2 Manthaturath Road Tel : (856-21) 217 546
Qualifications of the bidders P.O.Box: 3147 Fax : (856-21) 215 274
Companies that wish to participate in the bidding must meet the following minimum requirements. Vientiane Lao P.D.R Mobile: (856-20) 5551 6831
● Have submitted all the requested documents to KOICA office in Lao PDR following the bidding schedule. Email: phachanthavong@yahoo.com
● Not be prohibited from participating in the sale of goods in Lao PDR.
● Present the "Certificate of tax compliance issued by the government of Lao PDR".
● The bidding company must present its financial information reference (index of solvency and indebtedness) of
the last 5 years.
● The bidding company cannot participate in the Bid jointly with another company (consortiums are not allowed).

Language to be used for the Bid.

● All documents must be in English. However, bidders may submit documents in Lao language with attached
English translation. If there is any discrepancy in interpretation, the English version will overrule.
Bidding timeline

What’s On
Below are the logos and addresses of companies and organisations that have long-term
subscribed to and advertised in the Vientiane Times newspaper and website

Documents to be presented. (Directly at the KOICA Office in Lao PDR)

Visit Laos Year events in May Rocket festival
The documents to be submitted as part of the proposal must be included in one (1) envelope which must contain
one (1) set of original documents, one (1) set of copies, and one (1) USB which contains all documents in - City pillar festival and Miss Attapeu
electronic version.
● Form 1: Bid Application Form contest April 13-15, Attapeu province.
● Form 2: Bidder’s information sheet - Retro Market, Lao Food Festival,
o Enterprise Registration Certificate, Business Operation License,
o Index of solvency and indebtedness, Vientiane.
● Form 3: Form of Bid
● Form 4: Certificate of Performance for Delivery of Products (sale)
● Form 5: Sworn Statement on Company Being a Non-Blacklisted Entity
● Form 6: Declaration of Anti-Corruption in ODA Business Participation
Scholarships for study
● Form 7: Integrity Pledge
● Form 8: Bid Security in India Everyone is invited to this annual
● ANNEX 1: Technical specifications and complementary instructions.
The Embassy of India in Vientiane festival, when huge home-made
Contract information rockets will be launched alongside
invites applications for ICCR other special activities, including a
KOICA Office in Lao PDR scholarships, which fund undergraduate street fair, traditional performances,
● Address: 3rd Floor, Vientiane Plaza Hotel, Sailom Road, Hatsady-neua Village, Chanthapouly Distirct, P.O.Box and a concert.
10822,Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR and postgraduate courses including
When: May 22-23
● Telephone: (+856) 21-263-331 doctorate programmes at Indian Where: Meuangfeuang district,
● E-mail: laos@koica.go.kr
● City:Vientiane Capital universities during the academic year Vientiane province
● County: Lao PDR 2024-25. The scholarships include
Other matters enrollment and tuition fees, living E-sports competition
● KOICA office in Lao PDR will not be responsible for any cost or expense incurred by the companies interested
in participating in the present Bid.
expenses for full duration of the course, Young
● This purchase is part of Official Development Assistance (ODA) between the Government of the Republic of return airfare, visa fee, etc. people
Korea and the Government of Lao PDR. According to the agreement between both countries, there may be with a
tax exemptions and refunds. KOICA does not have any authority and responsibility for administrative affairs When: Applications accepted love of
for handling tax exemption and refund of taxes. The bidder should directly contact, Ministry of Health for tax until May 31 gaming
exemption and refund related to the tax incurred. In all cases for tax purposes, the bidder is responsible for are
the verification of the relevant procedures, and preparation of documents. Where: For information about courses,
invited
● If the provided information by the bidder (address, email, telephone, etc.) is not correct, KOICA office in Lao universities, guidelines and eligibility to enter
PDR will not be responsible in case the bidder does not receive any information related to the bidding process.
● It is expected that interested companies verify all institutions, forms, terms, and specifications prepared for the criteria, please visit ICCR’s portal this
bidding process. https://a2ascholarships.iccr.gov.in
● Failure to provide all required information in the bidding documents or at the time of submitting the bid is competition titled “Cool Head Gamer”.
entirely at the bidder's risk and may result in rejection of the bid. For more details, contact the Embassy The winner will receive 20 million kip.
● The interested companies in this present process may find the detailed bidding information in the following
websites:
of India at Tel: 021-352301 (Mr Participants will learn about digital
Phoumsavanh at 020 9335 6412), or literacy and be able to take part in
KOICA Office in Lao PDR: https://www.koica.go.kr/sites/lao_en many fun activities.
https://www.facebook.com/koica.laos email emb.vientianne@mea.gov.in/ hoc. When: May 4-5
vientianne@mea.gov.in. Where: Parkson Shopping Mall
16 Tuesday May 7, 2024
Sports
Assoc. Prof. Dr Phout Simmalavong addresses the opening ceremony of the Lao University
Games on Sunday.
Students vie for glory at
Lao University Games
Times Reporters
C
ompetitors
from institutes,
academies and
universities across
the country are taking time
out from their studies to take
part in the Lao University
Games, with matches taking
place from May 5-14 at the
National University of Laos
in Vientiane.
The games comprise
11 sports, which are being
played at the football
stadium and other facilities
at the university’s Dongdok
campus.
The opening ceremony
of the games on Sunday
featured a parade of the
competing athletes, a
torch procession, cultural
performances, and a muay
Lao demonstration.
The ceremony was
Students take part in the opening ceremony of the games.
Klopp keeps the drama going to the end as Liverpool beats
Spurs 4-2 in his penultimate Anfield match
LIVERPOOL, England
(AP) -- The smile is back
on Jurgen Klopp’s face —
even if his Liverpool players
seem intent on testing his
nerves right to the end.
The Premier League title
may be all but beyond the
Merseyside club, but that
doesn’t mean the drama is
over for Klopp, who will step
attended by the President
of the National Olympic
Committee of Laos and
Minister of Education and
Sports, Associate Prof. Dr
Phout Simmalavong, deputy
ministers, other officials,
sponsors, trainers and
athletes.
Representing the Party
and government, Assoc.
Prof. Dr Phout praised the
members of the organising
committee for their hard
work in putting the event
together.
The games comprise 146
events in total, including the
men’s and women’s football
tournaments, volleyball
and beach volleyball,
taekwondo, pencak silat,
badminton, sepak takraw
and e-sport events.
There are 146 gold,
146 silver and 234 bronze
medals up for grabs, so there
down at the end of the season.
Last week he was
arguing on the sideline
with Mohamed Salah
as Liverpool effectively
dropped out of the title race.
And while Salah opened the
scoring in a 4-2 win against
Tottenham at Anfield on
Sunday, it was Harvey
Elliott who appeared to
will be many happy prize
winners.
As well as being
an exciting competitive
event, the games will
give organising officials
and referees additional
experience in officiating at
matches.
Students will also
have the opportunity to
improve their skills and
university staff will be talent
spotting for the most likely
candidates to represent Laos
at future editions of the
ASEAN University Games
a n d Wo r l d U n i v e r s i t y
Games.
The event also gets
organisers into gear for
hosting regional level
competitions in the future.
The National University
of Laos hosted the first
edition of the Lao University
Games in 2016.
bring the broadest smile
to Klopp’s face with a
wonderful long-range goal
in what looked like being a
cakewalk for Klopp’s team.
“What a goal,” the
Liverpool manager said.
“In the game you only see
it flying in and I thought,
‘That was a good shot.’ The
goal I saw afterwards, there
Canelo Alvarez retains undisputed
championship with unanimous
decision over Jaime Munguia
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The
question of whether Canelo
Alvarez can any longer
knock out anyone likely
won’t go away with his
unanimous victory Saturday
night, but he remains
the undisputed super
middleweight champion
because he was the stronger
and more effective boxer.
Alvarez (61-2-2), who
closed as a minus-380
favorite at BetMGM,
overcame a somewhat slow
start to dominate and hand
Jaime Munguia (43-1) his
first loss.
The champ took full
control after knocking
down Munguia in the
fourth round before the
announced crowd of
17,492, which was fairly
evenly split between the
two competitors.
Tim Cheatham scored
the fight 117-110, David
Sutherland had it 116-111
and Steve Weisfeld 115-112.
“When I retire, my
numbers will say what
position I’m in,” Alvarez
said. “I know there’s a lot
of great Mexican fighters
in the past, but I’m the best
fighting right now.”
This is the second
straight time that Alvarez
left no doubt who was the
better fighter and showing
why, even at 33, he remains
one of the sport’s all-time
Rublev crowned winner of Madrid Open
after tense win over Auger-Aliassime
MADRID, (Xinhua)
-- Andrey Rublev won a
tense Madrid Open final
4-6, 7-5, 7-5 against Felix
Auger-Aliassime on Sunday
evening.
Rublev, struggled with a
virus in the opening games,
was below his best in the
first set, which his unseeded
rival claimed 6-4, but that
was the sign for the seventh
seed to take control of the
match.
Auger-Aliassime has
struggled for form in recent
months, and the only break
points he managed to force
were in the first set.
was not a lot of space left or
right. It went exactly where
it should be be. Top goal.”
Elliott’s strike, after
goals from Salah, Andy
Robertson and Cody Gakpo,
fired Liverpool into a 4-0
lead before the game had
even reached the hour mark.
What followed was the
unlikeliest of fightbacks
Canelo Alvarez knocks down Jaime Munguia in a super
middleweight title fight on Saturday.
greats. Alvarez also had his
way with Jermell Charlo in
September to win by even
wider margins.
These two fights
followed two victories and
a loss that were anything but
impressive. While Alvarez
showed he still is the class
of his division, he still
hasn’t delivered a knockout
since defeating Caleb Plant
in 2021 — a span of five
matches.
Alvarez was circumspect
regarding what he might do
next, saying he’ll return to
the ring “if the money is
right.”
“I’ve fought everyone
and I can do what I want,”
he said.
The lead-up to the bout
was unusually civil, with
As the game progressed,
Rublev looked to be
increasingly in control, as he
held his serve with relative
ease, but despite having
numerous games where
he held the advantage of
Auger-Aliassime’s serve, he
was unable to make it count.
With 11 games in the
second set, Rublev had only
been able to take advantage
of two break points from 10
from his rival, who always
seemed able to find an ace
when it was most needed to
cling onto his serve.
Rublev broke his rival in
the 12th game of the second
from Spurs that might have
made this another frustrating
day in what has ultimately
been a disappointing finale
for Klopp at the end of nearly
nine trophy-filled years.
Goals from Richarlison
and Son Heung-min made
it a much closer contest
than it had ever looked
like being. And it needed
Vientiane Times
--Photo AP
both fighters saying they
were proud to represent
Mexico on Cinco de Mayo
weekend.
“This win means a lot,”
Alvarez said. “I’m glad that
I gave him this opportunity.
Munguia is a great guy
and a great champion.
He’s going to have a great
career. I’m very proud that
all the Mexicans are here
watching us.”
Alvarez saved his
harshest criticism during
week not for his opponent,
but for Munguia’s promoter.
Oscar De La Hoya used to
be in Alvarez’s corner, but
they clearly are on opposite
sides now and nearly even
came to blows Wednesday
at the news conference after
trading allegations.
set to level the match and
take it to a deciding set,
where he always looked the
most likely to win.
Auger-Aliassime looked
to be struggling physically,
asking for a massage early
in the third set and then
getting a rub on his legs in
every break to try and stop
from cramping up.
Once again it wasn’t
until the 12th game of the
third set that Rublev finally
got his breakthrough at the
right moment when Auger-
Aliassime double faulted
when 30-40 down at the
Championship point.
two outstanding saves
from Alisson, a goal-line
clearance from Joe Gomez
and a VAR call to prevent it
from being closer still.
“It’s a little bit of a
mirror of the season.
R e a l l y, r e a l l y, r e a l l y,
good until we were really
rubbish and then, we were
okay again,” Klopp said.