The Philippines’ Ambassador to Laos, Ms Elizabeth Te, and Laos’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Thongsavanh Phomvihane, on Tuesday cut a cake to celebrate the 127th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-Laos diplomatic relations. The event was attended by deputy ministers, senior officials, ambassadors, and representatives of international organisations.

Lao and Japanese officials display a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Planning and Cooperation Department of Laos’ Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Japan’s NK Holding Company. The agreement was signed in Osaka, Japan, and relates to technical cooperation and a feasibility study of commercial crop production on the Bolaven Plateau. The partnership was cemented following talks held during the Laos-Japan High-level Business Meeting in Tokyo in January. The agreement was signed during the Lao trade, investment and tourism promotion conference in Osaka, under the theme “Laos: a green development destination in Southeast Asia.”

To mark the 10th anniversary of relations between Seoul and Vientiane, the Seoul Metropolitan Government dispatched 70 youth volunteers to Vientiane for a one-month programme taking place from July 15 to August 12. This is Seoul’s 70th overseas youth volunteer programme, reflecting the city’s continued commitment to international friendship and civic exchange. The volunteers will be assigned to five schools in Vientiane, namely Thongpong Primary School, Thongpong High School, Ban Mai Primary School, Tad Thong Primary School, and Vientiane Special Education School. The volunteers will share in a wide range of activities, including improving school facilities and learning environments, supporting educational programmes, and assisting with classroom learning. The programme aims to foster meaningful connections between the youth of Seoul and Vientiane, while contributing to the improvement of educational environments and mutual cultural understanding.

Members of mushroom growers’ groups in Xiengkhouang and Bolikhamxay provinces attend the close of a five-day capacity building course held from June 30-July 4 at the Laos-Korean Rural Development and Training Centre in Vientiane. The course was part of the “Project for Rural Development of Northern and Central Region of Laos”, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s Department of Rural Development with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency. The Deputy Director General of the Department of Rural Development, Ms Veomany Thepphavong, congratulated the participants on their commitment and encouraged them to apply the new mushroom cultivation methods they had learnt, so they could boost their incomes and improve the prosperity of their communities. The course concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants.

A wide range of domestic products were on display and for sale at the National Convention Centre (NCC) in Vientiane during the two-day government cabinet meeting with provincial governors, held from July 15–16. The event saw participation from various Lao businesses showcasing a diverse array of locally made goods, from processed foods to clothing.