Mr Sommad Polsena tours a newly opened library at the Laos-China Somboun Primary School in Vientiane, one of five libraries and learning equipment donated to support education in Laos.

New libraries and learning equipment give boost to Lao schools

China Southern Power Grid has provided five newly built libraries and more than 5,000 sets of study materials for schools in Luang Namtha and Oudomxay provinces and the capital Vientiane, expanding access to books and creating modern reading spaces for students.
The libraries and educational equipment were donated by the Chinese power company working in cooperation with Chinese organisations and enterprises based in Laos. 
An official handover of the new facilities and materials took place at the Laos-China Somboun Primary School in Nongping village, Vientiane,  organised by Electricité du Laos–Transmission. 
The event was attended by the Vice President of the National Assembly and President of the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity, Mr Sommad Pholsena, along with Deputy Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Dalavone Kittiphan.
Senior representatives from the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity, the Party Central Committee’s External Relations Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and education and sports departments from Vientiane, Oudomxay and Luang Namtha were also present. Members of Chinese organisations and enterprises based in Laos also attended the ceremony.
The new libraries are located at five schools and contain Lao-Chinese bilingual books, smart reading equipment and energy-efficient materials designed to provide safe and comfortable learning environments. 
Officials toured the facilities and interacted with students, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.
Speaking at the event, Mr Sommad said education lies at the heart of the country’s development and that the new libraries will help broaden students’ knowledge and support their learning. 
“This assistance not only brings books, equipment and a good learning environment to schools, but also opens opportunities for students to step into the world of knowledge and the wider outside world. It also serves as a symbol of Laos-China friendship,” he said.
In addition to the libraries, Chinese organisations and enterprises donated bicycles, student backpacks, and learning and sports equipment, with a combined value of 2.28 billion kip. 
The donation marks a new step in strengthening educational cooperation and creating better learning opportunities for young people in Laos.
Participants also highlighted the broader cooperation between Laos and China in education and youth development, noting that this is the first time such a library project has been implemented outside China. 
To date, the venture has built 500 libraries in 98 cities across China, supplying about 1.74 million books and benefiting more than 510,000 students.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update December 4, 2025)