Laos
Vientianne Times-Mar 27
The Chinese government has pledged to help improve living conditions in Lao provinces through a grant to be provided over the next three years.
The multi-billion-yuan financial assistance agreement was signed in November last year during a state visit to Laos by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The grant will be used to finance projects relating to poverty alleviation, education, health and infrastructure, Chinese Ambassador to Laos Wang Wentian told Lao and Chinese media recently.
It will also finance agricultural and environmental protection projects.
Through an interpreter, the ambassador said the grant would be used to deliver clean water to 100 villages as well as extending the electricity grid so that 100 more villages could access power.
In addition, the money will be used to build dispensaries in 100 rural villages.
To enable students in remote communities to access education, the grant will fund 20 distance-learning projects, Ambassador Wang told media during an interview at his embassy.
In addition, to help improve the quality of learning and teaching in rural communities, the grant will be used to pay for training for 3,000 teachers working in rural areas.
Courses in environmental protection will also be taught to representatives from the relevant sectors, funded by the grant, to bolster the Lao government’s efforts to protect the environment.
Lastly, the grant will be used to develop an internet database to compile information about farm products to help farmers find buyers.
Both sides also reached an agreement under which the Chinese government would pay for the construction of 10 schools. Implementation of the grant will begin this year.
“Currently, the Chinese Embassy to Laos is working with the relevant Lao sectors to implement the grant [agreement],” the ambassador said. The embassy has conveyed to Beijing the proposals submitted by the Lao side on ways to use the promised grant, so they can be given consideration, he added.
“For those livelihood improvement projects [to be funded by the grant], the Chinese side is waiting for proposed plans from the Lao side,” Ambassador Wang said. “The Chinese side is pleased to work closely with the Lao side to ensure that the grant agreed upon by the countries’ top leaders is realised in a timely fashion to bring tangible benefits to the Lao people.”
The financial assistance agreement was among 17 cooperation agreements signed by the two governments during the Chinese president’s state visit to Laos.
The Lao government has told the relevant departments to take prompt action in working with the Chinese side to fulfil the agreements.
