Deputy Prime Minister and French Ambassador, 17 November

France-Laos 70th anniversary: Celebrating a unique partnership building together a sustainable future

A long-standing relationship
 

Lao and French officials at the 1st France-Laos Economic Forum

Lao and French officials at the 1st France-Laos Economic Forum

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the France-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Association, a landmark agreement paving the way for a trust-based relationship growing with ambitious and forward-looking cooperation. It is the opportunity to renew our shared ambitions focusing on sustainability and solidarity.

As an Indo-Pacific nation and ASEAN development partner, France recognises ASEAN’s central role in the future of Asia. Laos has an important role to play in this regard, thus France aims at intensifying its cooperation and wishes a successful 2024 ASEAN chairmanship dedicated to strengthening connectivity and resilience.

Recently, the 1st France-Laos Economic Forum was held by French entrepreneurs, launching the project of a new French Chamber of Commerce in Laos, with a message from Minister for external trade Olivier Becht and the presence of special representative of the Minister for foreign affairs for economic ties with ASEAN marking keen interest in investing further in Laos as the 1st European investor. Main sectors are energy, agriculture, sustainable tourism, logistics, and finance.

Strengthening a trust-based partnership to support sustainable development

Visit to Xekong province to launch the CARES nutrition project with World Food Programme

7th ICM for Vat Phou Champasak held in Vientiane

Laos and France jointly work on tackling global challenges like climate, change, health and biodiversity loss. Over the past 30 years, we have committed more than 400 million euros together in agriculture (25 percent), health (20 percent), water (20 percent), education (20 percent), and governance through our many operators: AFD, EFEO, IRD, CIRAD, not including multilateral and regional projects.

Sustainable agriculture is a key part of Laos’s sustainable future. As a long-standing partner in this field, France is promoting agro-ecology jointly with the Lao government, particularly in the tea and coffee sector, along-standing cooperation. The French Development Agency (AFD) is a key player in supporting Laos’s climate adaptation and resilience as well as its green transition.

Renewing shared ambitions  

We can work even harder together, with our resources and our talents, to deepen our solidarity-based partnerships in Laos' priority areas. During the covid-19pandemic, France has offered 600,000 vaccine doses and included Laos into the 3 million euros regional PREZODE initiative preventing the emergence of zoonoses. Our cooperation in the health sector also focuses on strengthening staff capabilities, by training many doctors in France over the last years.

Tree-planting ceremony reinforcing strong bilateral links for the70th anniversary of the France-Laos Treaty of Friendship

Further in solidarity, France has doubled programmed food aid to 1 million euros in 2023 to fight against malnutrition and food insecurity. Concrete answers to needs is key to our trust-based partnership.

Another important cooperation sector is heritage protection, where French expertise contributed to the inclusion of Luang Prabang and the Vat Phou sanctuary on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This work continues through the CHAMPA project, protecting heritage and developing sustainable tourism in Vat Phou Champasak and Savannakhet, who was recently topped up by 5million euros during the 7th International Cooperation Meeting (ICM) held in Vientiane, co-organised by France.

Paving the way for future generations

Our shared history calls on us to deepen and enrich our relationship, both state-to-state and people-to-people ties, especially young people with culture, education, and sports.

In 2024, France will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games from July 26 to August 11 and
August 28 to September 8, bringing together thousands of athletes and people from around the world to celebrate Olympic values of friendship, respect and excellence. We look forward to welcoming Laotian athletes!

The unique bond between France and Laos is also provided by Francophonie, connecting 321 million French speakers around the world, granting professional and personal growth opportunities for all.

Opening of the France-Laos Festival, with Duo Ondine and Vientiane Chamber Orchestra

Over the past 10 years, France has invested 5 million euros in education in Laos, and in developing French-speaking with actors such as bilingual classes, Lycée Hoffet, Ecole francophone de Luang Prabang, and the French department of the National University of Laos. in the 70th anniversary year, around 100 young Lao people went to France to study and train in French, reinforcing our community of 5,000 alumni. We wish to increase people-to-people exchanges to welcome more students, artists, scientists, doctors and more!

Looking towards the future of Laos and our relations by involving young people, France keeps its priorities set on gender equality, human exchanges, and youth, taken into account in all projects implemented in Laos in coordination with Lao authorities. Through the PISCCA programme (Innovative Civil Society Projects and Stakeholders Coalitions), France supports civil society organisations by funding their projects and enabling them to strengthen their capacities while respecting gender equality. Over 2022-2023, it has supported 19 projects worth over US$500,000.

Involving both youth and civil society also implies culture in all its forms. The 2nd edition of the France-Laos Festival has taken place in November to reinforce mutual understanding and to celebrate artistic creation and fusion!




And our social media accounts :
Facebook: facebook.com/ambassade.france.laos
Instagram : @franceaulaos
Twitter : @FranceAuLaos
Our website : la.ambafrance.org

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update December 19, 2023)