Vientiane Times

tuesDAY January 26, 2016

The First National English Language Newspaper

ISSUE 21

Northern provinces
hit by extreme
cold snap
Times Reporters

People and livestock in upland

areas of northeastern Laos are
struggling with the freezing
cold as temperatures in some
areas dropped to zero, while
lowland areas too have been
taken by surprise.
Low temperatures are
currently being experienced
throughout the country, with
the cold being accompanied by
strong wind and rain in some
places, notably Phongsaly,
Huaphan and Xieng Khuang
provinces.
The temperature in
Xamneua district, Huaphan
province yesterday dropped
to zero degrees Celsius, while
Phongsaly recorded 1.5C
and Xieng Khuang 0.2C, the
Meteorology and Hydrology
Department reported.
Some upland areas of
Huaphan province experienced
frost. Many people commented
on social networks on Sunday
that it was snowing but the
department confirmed that it
was not.
However, every part of the
country will have cold weather,
wind and rain in the next few
days, according to weather
forecasters.
The department called
on everyone to protect their
health, keep warm and stay
out of the cold, especially the

elderly and children.

Meanwhile Lao VIVO
Company is calling for
contributions from the public
to help the poorest people
in the hardest hit areas of
Phongsaly, Huaphan and Xieng
Khuang provinces.
A few buffaloes in
Nongkhang village, Xamneua
district, Huaphan province
died due to the cold, while
the provincial livestock and
fisheries section expected to
report more livestock deaths.
One Huaphan resident,
who works for the provincial
Agriculture and Forestry
Department, said the fine
rain looked like snow but she
couldnt be sure because this
was the first time she had seen
such a phenomenon.
The lowest temperature
recorded in Vientiane yesterday
was 10.4C, while Oudomxay
reported 5.0C, Huayxai district
in Bokeo province 7.1C, Luang
Namtha province 5.0C, Luang
Prabang province 7.1C and
Xayaboury province 8.8C.
Xaysomboun province saw
temperatures drop to 4.5C,
Phonhong district in Vientiane
province recorded 9.3C, Pakxan
district, Borikhamxay province
9.7C, Km20 in Khammuan
province 3.3C, Savannakhet
province 10.2C, Pakxe district
in Champassak province 14.5C,
Continued page 3

Xamneua district, Huaphan province, has experienced some of its

coldest temperatures in recent memory. Thick frost is clearly visible
on the ground and roofs.

The 10th Congress of Lao

Peoples Revolutionary Party

4500 kip

John Kerrys visit deepens

Laos-US ties
Souksakhone Vaenkeo

Laos and the United States have

strengthened their bilateral
ties, with US Secretary of State
John Kerry ending a two-day
official visit to Laos yesterday.
Mr Kerrys visit, made
at the invitation of his Lao
counterpart Mr Thongloun
Sisoulith, came ahead of the
planned trip to Laos by US
President Barack Obama,
which is scheduled to take
place in September this year.
The US Embassy to Laos
said the historic visits to Laos
by the US leaders would
demonstrate a deepening
relationship between the
United States and the Lao
PDR.
Following his arrival in
Vientiane on Sunday, Mr
Kerry yesterday met with Mr
Thongloun, who is also Deputy
Prime Minister, at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry said in a
press release that both sides
discussed ways to deepen
bilateral ties and cooperation
between Laos and the US, as
well as multilateral issues.
Agendas tabled at the talks
covered the areas of further
bilateral cooperation to clear
unexploded ordnance (UXO)
dropped on Laos during the
Indochinese war.
They also discussed LaosUS engagement in areas
including health care, nutrition,
education, drug supervision and
control, economics and trade
and environmental protection
as well as cooperation to
continue searching for the
remains of US soldiers missing
in action in Laos.
In the area of multilateral
cooperation, the Lao ministry
said both sides further discussed
the Lower Mekong Initiative
cooperation framework.
The US has provided
financial aid to Laos amounting
to more than US$45 million
a year. The US Embassy
to Laos said Secretary
Kerry highlighted the US
commitment to partnering
with Laos to improve
nutrition across the country,
including through the recently
announced construction of
the Lao-American Nutrition

Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong (right) welcomes US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Institute in Vientiane.
Shortly after his talks with
Mr Thongloun, Secretary
Kerry called on Prime Minister
Thongsing Thammavong at the
Government Office to discuss
preparations for the US-Asean
Sunnylands Summit, which
will be jointly hosted by the
United States and Laos, as
2016 Asean Chair, in California
next month.
This unprecedented
gathering the first hosted by
the United States with Asean
leaders builds on the deep
partnership that the United
States has forged with Asean
since 2009, the US Embassy
said.
The Lao ministry said Mr
Kerrys visit also prepared for
the planned visit to Laos by US
president Barack Obama later
this year to attend the Asean-

US Summit.
Following the official
meetings, Secretary Kerry
visited Pha That Luang (That
Luang Stupa), the national
symbol of Laos, where he
learned about Lao history
and culture. Mr Kerry is the

second Secretary of State

to have visited Laos since
the establishment of the Lao
Peoples Democratic Republic
in 1975. Then Secretary of
State Hillary Rodham Clinton
made a one-day official trip to
Laos in 2012.

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2 Home news

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Lotus World gives boost

to education in Laos
Times Reporters

Vice President of the Lao Womens Union, Ms Bouachanh Syhanath (right), and Associate Country
Director of Oxfam Laos, Mr Antonino Faibene (left), chair the meeting.

Gender equality project

progress assessed
Times Reporters

Phase two of the Women

Empowerment in Local
Leadership for Gender Equality
project for 2013-2015 has been
successfully implemented in
Luang Prabang, Borikhamxay
and Xekong provinces.
Over the past few years,
the project has contributed to
improving the legal framework
and policies to advance local
womens right to participate
in decision making, and also
helped promote gender equality
in leadership and participation.
In addition, the project
has ensured men and women
were able to implement
gender-sensitive policies in
the targeted districts.
The Women Empowerment
in Local Leadership for
Gender Equality project was
organised by the Lao Womens
Union, while Oxfam Novib
provided a grant for the project.
L a o Wo m e n s U n i o n
member committees from
three main provinces jointly
r e v i e w e d t h e p r o j e c t s
achievements at a closing
meeting which took place in
Vientiane yesterday.
Vice President of the
Lao Womens Union, Ms
Bouachanh Syhanath, and
Associate Country Director

of Oxfam Laos, Mr Antonino

Faibene, chaired the meeting.
In her opening speech,
Ms Bouachanh said the
government has focused
on raising awareness of the
need to advance womens
rights. Women are now able to
participate in socio-economic
development plans.
The number of female
National Assembly members
is gradually increasing, and
also in state administrations
and other areas, she added.
The Women Empowerment
in Local Leadership for
Gender Equality project has
created better conditions and
more opportunities for local
women as they are now able to
participate in decision making
and other aspects of planning.
Mr Faibene said the
project was funded by the
Dutch Ministry of Foreign
Affairs through Oxfam and
successfully implemented by
the Lao Womens Union, a
long-term partner of Oxfam
in Laos.
Laos has a positive legal
environment for gender equality
and womens rights. Women
leaders are needed at all levels
of society and Mr Faibene said
some extraordinary progress
has been made in womens
leadership at the national level.

But this can be particularly

challenging at the village
level, where traditions, culture
and the role of women in the
home often prevent women
putting themselves forward for
leadership roles.
He added that womens
voices are often scarcely heard
in community level planning
and in national policy-making
processes. Their contribution
to providing family income and
food resources is too frequently
overlooked.
O x f a m s a n a l y s i s ,
strategic choices and actions
acknowledge the centrality
of gender roles and womens
rights. This requires gender
analysis, language and
understanding of the differential
impact of poverty drivers and
development interventions.
Oxfam believes that
for substantive and durable
transformation to occur,
change needs to happen at
different, mutually reinforcing
levels. This includes
changing womens and mens
consciousness, improving
womens access to resources,
changing informal cultural
norms and practices that
maintain inequality in everyday
practice, and advocating for an
enabling legal and institutional
environment.

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Lotus World, an NGO from

the Republic of Korea, has
provided assistance through
the Ministry of Education
and Sports for the project
Education for Community
Development in Xieng
Khuang province.
L o t u s Wo r l d i s a n
international relief and
development organisation
established to eradicate global
poverty based on the Buddhist
principles of mercy, equality
and peace.
A grant agreement for
funding of US$394,000 was
signed last week at the Xieng
Khuang provincial Education
and Sports Department by the
departments Deputy Director
Mr Thongphet Inthaxay and
the Director of Lotus World in
Cambodia, Jiwoo Sunim.
The signing ceremony was
witnessed by representatives
from both sides.
The two-year project will
begin in March this year and
will run until 2017 in Dokkham
village, Kham district.
The main activities will
be school construction and
renovation, providing furniture
and educational materials,
supporting community libraries
and providing books, holding
primary school teacher training
and empowerment training for
villagers and local volunteers.

Mr Thongphet Inthaxay (left) shakes hands with Jiwoo Sunim after

the signing ceremony.

Speaking at the signing

ceremony, Jiwoo Sunim said
We are very proud to bring
better educational opportunities
for young students.
It is critically important
that the benefits of the
project should be enjoyed by
people in the respective local
communities as these are the
most significant characteristics
of our organisation.
Mr Thongphet thanked
Lotus World for its generous
support and expressed hope
for further cooperation in the
near future, saying Providing
assistance to students in Xieng
Khuang province will help
them to have a better future.
The development of
human resources is key to
economic progress and national
growth, he added.

The projects will help

to improve the educational
environment of the respective
schools and also enrollment rates
among students, especially those
from rural areas.
Starting from an education
project to help impoverished
children and a welfare project
in Cambodia in 2004, Lotus
World is also promoting
education-supporting projects
for healthy development in
communities in Myanmar and
Laos.
Lotus World in the Lao
PDR has worked since 2013
to help the government of
Laos to achieve its socioeconomic development goals
by strengthening access to
education in rural areas,
especially Xieng Khuang
province.

Experts confer on lifelong

learning development
Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth

Education experts from DVV

International and the Ministry
of Education and Sports
met in Vientiane yesterday
to exchange experiences on
education development in
lifelong learning in the region.
Attending the meeting were
Deputy Minister of Education
and Sports, Mr Lytou Bouapao,
Regional Director of DVV
International in Laos, Mr Uwe
Gartenschlaeger, and officials
working in the sector.
Meeting participants
reported on progress in
transforming education and
training systems to create
lifelong learning societies in
the Asia-Pacific, lessons learnt
from an expert workshop at
UNESCO Bangkok, Thailand,
the experiences exchanged on
education development at the
Community Learning Centre
(CLC) in Cambodia, and
lifelong learning for human
security in the education for
sustainable development and
lifelong learning for all project.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr
Lytou Bouapao said transforming
education for sustainable
development and lifelong
learning for all would play an
important role in improving
education development in Laos.
He said the governments
education sector development
plan for 2016 to 2020 was
about creating opportunities
for all Lao people to have
equitable access to quality
education to help themselves
and the nation while reducing

Mr Uwe Gartenschlaeger (centre) at the meeting.

the disparities between urban

and rural areas.
Communications Officer
of DVV International, Ms
Dalouny Sisourath, said
the workshop also aimed
to support the spread and
development of model CLCs
to other parts of the region,
ensure their sustainability, and
offer education to people who
had not had the opportunities
to learn.
She said explanatory
meetings were held to give
participants a solid introduction
to the Community Learning
Centre, stressing that the multipurpose facilities would be
operated by the community.
The CLC operation
cannot succeed if there is no
understanding of its meaning
amongst the community, so
this step must be handled
with careful attention. Further
explanation is given until
the villagers are completely
satisfied, she said.

She explained that the

purpose of the CLC was to
cooperate with efforts to rebuild
the functionality of education
that takes place outside schools
in local communities.
In acting as a support for
literacy education, this out-ofschool educational function
will help regional societies to
act for themselves and carry
on the educational activities
needed by communities.
DVV International is the
international branch of the
Berman Adult Education
Association. The leading
professional organisation
of non-formal education
and development, DVV
International has committed
itself to supporting lifelong
learning for more than 45
years.
In Laos, DVV International
has cooperated since 2009 with
the Department of Non-Formal
Education of the Ministry of
Education and Sports.

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Home news

Army marks 67th

anniversary

Times Reporters

Participants from SOS International, SOS Asian and SOS Childrens Villages Laos pose for a group
photo during the recent workshop.

SOS Childrens Villages

achieve great success
Times Reporters

SOS Childrens Villages Laos

have attained remarkable
outcomes throughout the past
years, thanks to the support
and assistance provided by
SOS International, SOS Asia,
friendly countries and donor
organisations.
National Director of SOS
Childrens Villages Laos Mr
Soumata Dengchampa made the
observation in his introductory
remarks at the SOS Asian
Financial Heads Workshop
from January 25-30.
This meeting is one of great
significance for the SOS Family
in Asia in general and for Lao
SOS Childrens Villages in
particular, he noted.
In 1993, Laos became
the 124th country to formally
endorse the assistance provided
by SOS International and led
to the establishment of the first
SOS Village in Vientiane that
same year.
The SOS villages have been
further expanded and at present
there are six SOS Childrens
Villages in Laos which have been

home to 1,483 children taken

care of by 438 SOS mothers,
aunts and staff with support
rendered by SOS Kinderdorf
International.
Expressing his deep
appreciation for the continued
support given by President
Helmut Kutin and SOS Asia,
Mr Soumata said SOS Childrens
Villages Laos have been further
developed and expanded quite
rapidly compared with those in
neighbouring countries.
In this regard, the Lao
government highly values the
generous support and assistance
given to Lao children by
SOS International, which has
proved to be one of the most
successful projects supporting
the Lao governments policy
on child care and development
thus delivering remarkable
outcomes, Mr Soumata added.
Furthermore, the projects
have made an important
contribution to addressing
social problems, giving new
hope for disadvantaged children
by providing better care, the
opportunity for a better life,
education and health, all of which

Weather forecast

will ultimately restore their hopes

and ensure their brighter future in
society, he said.
Today SOS Childrens
Villages Laos have been able
to provide better care, better
education opportunities, health
and the youths which once
resided and received care in
SOS Childrens Villages Laos are
now able to perform their duties
in different occupations.
Moreover, many of them
are now pursuing further
studies at different vocational
schools, colleges and universities
throughout the country while a
great number of them have been
granted scholarships to pursue
further studies and training
abroad.
Significantly, the recent
results of entrance examinations
at tertiary and higher institutions
in previous years show that our
youths have gained outstanding
results as well as the exceptional
performance recorded at
Hermann Gmeiner schools,
Mr Soumata said.
Apart from providing
family-based care, SOS
Childrens Villages Laos also
offers scholarships to poor and
deprived children who are at
risk of losing their families and
parental care.
In addition, some villages
have established projects to
address the problem of
malnutrition among children as
well as centres for promoting
mother and child health and
other related services which have
brought about satisfaction and
happiness among the people to
benefit from them.
However Mr Soumata
noted that despite the said
achievements, there are a number
of areas which SOS Childrens
Villages Laos should continue
to address.
Firstly, it needs to improve
SOS Lao family-based care;
secondly, some SOS mothers
have resigned from their duties
after four to five years of work
and there are cases where
mothers have not been able
to provide proper and typical
family-based care.
Thirdly, the improper
behaviour expressed by some
children remains a key challenge
which needs to be addressed by
all SOS stakeholders. However
Mr Soumata noted that there
have been similar challenges
throughout the region and
was confident they could be
addressed.

Maintaining loyalty to the

nation, Party and people while
pursuing national development
and defence remains the goal of
the Lao Peoples Army.
Minister of Defence
Lieutenant General Sengnouan
Xayalath gave this message at
a meeting held in Vientiane
yesterday to commemorate the
armys 67th anniversary this
year on January 20.
He reminded the audience
about January 20, 1949,
when President Kaysone
Phomvihane founded the Lao
Issara (Liberation) Amy in
the revolutionary stronghold
of Huaphan province, which
eventually led to the formation
of the current Lao Peoples
Army.
Lt Gen Sengnouan
highlighted the traditions of
the army, and spoke of its
triumphant battles for national
liberation and its growth in the
process of national defence.
He talked of the armys
bravery, tactics, and diligence
in working and learning, and
also mentioned the armys
loyalty to the Party, nation, and
people of Laos.
His speech praised the
armys adherence to socialist
ideology and its tradition of
solidarity with the peoples and
armies of socialist countries
and progressive nations around
the world.
We count democracy as
our goal and as a stimulant
to the nations revolutionary
mission, so the enhancement
of democracy is a process
closely related to all sectors in
the country, the minister said.
Our army always fully
respects and implements the
entire peoples ownership,
he added.
The army celebration took

Lt Gen Sengnouan Xayalath awards medals to a group of military

officers who have made outstanding contributions.

place to mark the success of last

weeks 10th Party Congress.
Lt Gen Sengnouan noted the
armys aspiration to implement
the resolution adopted by the
congress and to broaden the
fine traditions of the nation and
the army.
The army will continue to
build relations with people at the
grassroots level in the process
of national development,
building preparedness among
all people for national defence
and security.
The Lao Peoples Army

aims to keep promoting peace

and stability and international
cooperation, which it will do
by strengthening relationships
with fraternal armies, absorbing
the Party and governments
foreign policy, and enhancing
Party guidance and the fine
tradition of the nation and
army.
An awards ceremony for
outstanding contributions on
the part of army divisions
and units took place at a
recent parade to mark the 40th
anniversary of the Lao PDR.

Northern provinces hit ... from page 1

Saravan province 16.1C, Xekong
province 12.2C, and Attapeu
province 19.1C.
Many other countries have
also been affected by unusually
cold weather.
Temperatures have dropped
in other parts of South East
Asia as well, including Vietnam
and Thailand. In Bangkok,
which rarely sees temperatures
below 20C, a minimum of
16C was recorded on Sunday,

while Vietnam had its coldest

weather in about two decades
over the weekend with Hanoi
recording a 6C minimum.
Taiwanese media reported
a rash of deaths from
hypothermia and cardiac
disease following a sudden
drop in temperatures over the
weekend.
Meanwhile heavy snow
forced the closure of the airport
on the Korean holiday island of

Jeju, with all flights cancelled.

The cold spell has also hit
Hong Kong, southern China
and Japan, BBC News reported
yesterday.
Now storms have hit large
parts of Japan as well, with
more than 600 domestic flights
cancelled across the country on
Sunday and Monday. At least
five people have died from the
snow so far and more than 100
have been injured in Japan.

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4 Home news

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

First chromosome lab

opens in Laos

Times Reporters

The Korea Foundation for International

Healthcare (KOFIH) has provided
a Chromosome Laboratory for the
University of Health Sciences in
Vientiane.
The Chromosome Laboratory
will be the first facility in Laos
where chromosomes can be studied
microscopically and analysed.
Chromosomes are thread-like structures
within each cell nucleus and contain the
bodys genetic blueprint.
Each chromosome contains
thousands of genes in specific
locations. These genes are responsible
for a persons inherited physical
characteristics and have a profound
impact on growth, development, and
function.
The new lab will detect
abnormalities in the structure of a
persons chromosome. But it requires
experience and expertise to perform
tests properly and to interpret the
results. For this reason, Dr Viraseng
Rajpho spent six months being trained
at the Seoul National University
College of Medicine in the Republic
of Korea.
The laboratory is a partnership
project with the Dr Lee Jong Wook
Seoul project. The laboratory is
supported by the Dr Lee Jong Wook
Seoul project and funded by the
KOFIH.
It has been provided with
equipment and other assistance at a
cost of US$82,000 (about 667 million
kip) by the KOFIH.
An opening ceremony for the
lab took place at the University of

News in Brief
Pakngum district strides ahead with development

Authorities in Pakngum district, Vientiane, recently collected more

than 67 million kip from local residents and businesses to repair
an 8km road in Natham village. The road has now been resurfaced
and can be used in both the dry and wet seasons, according to the
Vientiane Mai Newspaper. Primary and secondary schools in the
district have also been repaired, many households have received
certificates declaring them to be cultural families, and some villages
have achieved drug-free status.

Investors undertake more than 500 projects in

Xayaboury

Over the past five years, Xayaboury province has attracted domestic
and foreign investment in more than 500 projects, the Socio-Economic
Newspaper reported recently. The provinces economy has grown at
an average of 9 percent a year, with GDP rising to more than 7 trillion
kip in the past five years.
The agriculture and forestry sector has grown by 4.5 percent, industry
by 13 percent and the service sector by 13 percent. Investors have
ploughed 3 trillion kip into 305 social and economic projects, with the
government investing more than 930 billion kip, individuals more than 1
trillion kip, and banks more than 1 trillion kip.

Four motorbike thieves arrested

Minister of Health Prof. Dr Eksavang Vongvichit (centre) cuts a ribbon at the
opening ceremony of the chromosome laboratory on Monday.

Health Sciences on Monday and was

attended by Minister of Health Prof. Dr
Eksavang Vongvichit, Ambassador of
the Republic of Korea to Laos Mr Kim
Soo-Gwon, and other officials.
The chromosome testing and
analysis performed in the new lab will
allow doctors to observe disorders and
diseases in unborn children that cannot
be detected using ultrasound.
Chromosome disorders can be
found in any human cell, but in practice,
tests are usually performed on amniotic
fluid.
Some chromosomal disorders
that may be detected include Downs
syndrome (Trisomy 21) and Edwards
syndrome (Trisomy 18), two disorders
resulting from an extra chromosome

which cause mental retardation. These

and other disorders were previously
very difficult to detect using only
ultrasound technology.
The lab will also make chromosome
analysis available for adults for the first
time ever in Laos. These tests, which
use blood or bone marrow, can confirm
chromosome disorders that may be
causing infertility, developmental delay,
habitual abortion and other disorders,
the causes of which were previously
a mystery.
The lab will adopt the same model
of quality testing used at the Cytogenetic
Laboratory, Seoul National University
College of Medicine, with a focus on
chromosome analysis, education, and
diagnosing chromosomal disorders.

Oudomxay province police recently arrested four men who stole

11 motorbikes in Oudomxay and Xayaboury provinces, the
Khuamsangob Newspaper reported recently. The police arrested the
first suspect, Mr Sao, 22, from Pakbaeng village in Baeng district,
who confessed that he and the other three men stole the motorbikes.
Police later arrested the remaining three thieves, who said they sold
the stolen motorbikes for one to two million kip each.
The other three thieves were named as Mr Xay, 27, and Mr Niem, 27,
from Baeng district in Oudomxay province, and Mr Done, 21, from
Donexay village in Chomphet district, Luang Prabang province.

Vientiane court imprisons four drug dealers

A Vientiane court has handed down a fine of 28 million kip and six
years imprisonment to one drug dealer and fines of 10 million kip and
five years imprisonment to three other drug dealers.
Police last week reported that they arrested the first suspect, Mr
Bounheng, 33, from Elai-Tai village, Naxaithong district, Vientiane,
and seized 170 amphetamine pills in his possession. The suspect
confessed that he had sold the drugs to three other dealers, whom
police later arrested. The three dealers were named as Ms Nilamon,
37, Mr Honeda, 25, and Mr Thongmany, 23, all of Elai-Tai village, the
Khuamsangob Newspaper reported.

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Photo news

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign

Affairs Thongloun Sisoulith (right) escorts US
Secretary of State John Kerry to a meeting at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. Mr
Kerry was in Laos for a two-day official visit
from January 24-25 in response to an invitation
from Mr Thongloun.

Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong (fourth right), Mr John Kerry (fifth right) and Lao and
US officials pose for group photo at the Government Office yesterday when the US delegation
led by Mr Kerry called on the prime minister.

US Secretary of State John Kerry (right) visits the

That Luang Stupa yesterday.
The DVV International
regional office yesterday hands
over 2,500 calendars and 5,000
diaries to the Department of
Non-Formal Education of the
Ministry of Education and
Sports. Present on the occasion
were the Regional Director of
DVV International to Laos,
Mr Uwe Gartenschlaeger
(front, left), Director of the
Department of Non-Formal
Education, Dr Ka Saleumsouk
(front, right) and Deputy
Minister of Education and
Sports, Mr Lytou Bouapao.
--Photos Phetphoxay

Branches are covered in icicles while frost

blanketed the ground and peoples roofs
yesterday in the villages of Salia and Nasala
in Xamneua district.

People in Xamneua district, Huaphan province,

yesterday awoke to what they swore was snow
after the temperature dropped to 0 degrees Celsius
overnight.

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Region
In brief from Asia
News Network
Jeju airport
resumes operations
KOREA (The Korea
Herald) -- Jeju
International Airport
resumed operations at
noon on Monday after
a 42hour closure due
to heavy snow and high
winds. Nearly 86,000
people were stranded
and some 1,100 flights
were canceled on the
southern resort island
over the weekend and
early Monday.
The island recorded
its biggest snowfall
in three decades at
11 centimeters as of
Sunday, with more
than 1 meter of snow in
mountain areas.

French president in India to

strengthen strategic ties

Five carjackers
killed at Comelec
checkpoint in
Nueva Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY,
Philippine (Philippine
Daily Inquirer) -- Five
suspected car thieves
were killed before dawn
Monday when they
tried to crash through a
police checkpoint in the
Science City of Muoz
in Nueva Ecija.
Police said that before
the incident they
were alerted about
the theft of a tricycle
in Talavera town. At
about 3 am, five men
aboard a tricycle and
a motorcycle tried to
plow through a police
checkpoint set up at
the start of a Comelec
gun ban in Barangay
(village) Sapang
Cauayan. One of the
men opened fire at
the police triggering a
gunbattle that left the
five men dead, police
said.
Probers believe that
that tricycle used by the
fatalities was the one
stolen from Macario de
la Cruz.

Nations agree to
upgrade ties and
work together on
Belt and Road
Initiative

CHINA (China Daily)

-- Observers have
expressed high hopes for
Chinas role in helping
Iran reinvigorate its
economy, which has
been weakened by three
decades of international
sanctions. President Xi
Jinping and his Iranian
counterpart, Hassan
Rouhani, agreed to
upgrade their countries
two-way relationship
to a comprehensive
strategic partnership
during talks in Teheran
on Saturday. Iran was
the final stop on Xis
three-nation Middle East
trip, with the president
arriving back in Beijing
on Sunday. It was the
first visit to the country
by a Chinese leader for
14 years.

French President Francois Hollande (second left) shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi next to Indian President Pranab Mukherjee (left), during the ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati
Bhavan, the presidential palace, in New Delhi, India.
--Photo AP

NEW DELHI (AP) -- French

President Francois Hollande
began a three-day visit to
India on Sunday that could
push a multibillion-dollar
deal for combat airplanes
and closer cooperation on
counterterrorism and clean
energy.
Hollande landed in the
northern city of Chandigarh
where Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi joined him
at official engagements and

lauded Frances decision to

invest US$1 billion every year
in India in various sectors.
Chandigarh was designed
in the 1950s by Swiss-French
architect Le Corbusier and is
one of three places France has
pledged to help develop as
so-called smart cities - with
clean water supplies, efficient
sewage disposal and public
transportation.
Hollande and French
business leaders met with

their Indian counterparts to

boost bilateral trade, which
in 2014 was US$8.6 billion.
New Delhi is also trying to
encourage French companies
to tap into Indias economic
boom.
Modi in his speech said
India was looking forward to
French expertise in defense
production, developing
railways and waterways, and
fighting global warming and
terrorism.

Large metal chunk investigated

after washing onto Thai beach
BANGKOK (AP) -- A large
chunk of metal that could
be from an aircraft washed
ashore in southern Thailand,
but Malaysian authorities have
cautioned against speculation
of a link to a Malaysia Airlines
flight missing almost two years.
The location on the eastern
side of Thailand where the debris
was found also means it is highly
unlikely that the material is from
the missing plane.
Flight 370 lost
communications and made a
sharp turn away from its Beijing
destination before disappearing
in March 2014. It is presumed
to have crashed in the Indian

Ocean, and only one piece of

debris has been identified as
coming from the plane, a slab
of wing that washed ashore on
Reunion Island in the western
Indian Ocean last July.
M a l a y s i a n Tr a n s p o r t
Minister Liow Tiong Lai said
he instructed Malaysian civil
aviation officials to contact
Thailand about the newly
found wreckage, a curved
piece of metal measuring
about 2 meters by 3 metres
(6 feet by 10 feet) with
electrical wires hanging from
it and numbers stamped on it
in several places.
I urge the media and the

public not to speculate because

it will give undue pressure to
the loved ones of the victims of
MH370, he said.
Thailands Transportation
Ministry said four Malaysian
officials and two Thai experts
will visit the site Monday.
The debris was found on
the eastern coast of southern
T h a i l a n d s N a k k o n S i
Thammarat province, about 600
kilometres south of Bangkok on
the Gulf of Thailand.
While debris can drift
thousands of kilometres on
ocean currents, that location
would be a surprise based on the
data from Flight 370.

Thai people look at a large chunk of metal found on a beach in Nakhon Si Thammarat province,
Thailand.

--Photo AP

Hollande is accompanied
by the ministers of defense,
foreign affairs, economy and
culture and dozens of top
corporate leaders.
O n S u n d a y, A i r b u s
H e l i c o p t e r s a n d I n d i a s
Mahindra Defense, a private
company, signed a statement
of intent in the presence of the
two leaders to produce military
helicopters in India as a joint
venture.
Mahindra India and
Airbus Helicopters have
agreed on a blueprint that
can put India on the world
map for military helicopter
manufacturing, said Pierre
de Bausset, president of the
Airbus Group India. Details
were not immediately known.
Hollande will hold talks
with Indian leaders in New
Delhi on Monday and be a
guest of honor on Tuesday
at Indias Republic Day
parade, celebrating 66 years
since the country adopted its
constitution.
High on the agenda is
Indias desire to purchase 36
Rafale combat planes for its
air force, which Modi had
announced during a visit to
Paris in April, touching off
several rounds of negotiations
over pricing, offsets and
servicing.
In an interview with the
Press Trust of India news
agency, Hollande hinted it
might take some more time to

sign the deal.

Agreeing on the
technicalities of this
arrangement obviously takes
time, but we are on the right
track, PTI quoted Hollande
as saying.
France has also promised
support for Indias cleanenergy quest, including a
solar energy alliance launched
last month during the global
climate talks held in Paris.
Our bilateral relationship
with France is very
comprehensive. It covers
a number of sectors such
as defense, civil nuclear
cooperation, railways, smart
cities, science and research,
space and culture. In all these
areas we expect some forward
progress during the French
presidents visit, Vikas
Swarup, Indias External
Affairs Ministry spokesman,
said last week.
The two sides are also
expected to touch on antiterrorism efforts including
speeding up extradition
requests and cracking down
on money laundering used to
fund militant activities.
Swarup noted that both
countries had been hit by
militants recently, with 130
people killed across Paris on
November 13 and a four-day
siege against the north Indian air
force base of Pathankot earlier
this month in which seven Indian
soldiers were killed.

Malaysian PM defends
strict security laws to
fight terrorism
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia
(AP) -- Malaysias leader on
Monday defended the countrys
strict security laws, saying they
are needed to fight terrorism as
the Islamic State group warned
of revenge over a crackdown on
its members.
Prime Minister Najib
Razak said the terrorism threat
is very real and that the
laws are crucial to ensure
Malaysia is not open to
infiltration. Opening a twoday international counterterrorism conference, Najib
said he will not apologise for
taking steps to preserve national
security.
There are no civil liberties
under Daesh and there are no
shields against those who are set
on committing acts of terrorism.
The best way to uphold civil
liberties is to ensure the safety
of the nation, Najib said.
Daesh is the term used by
some to refer to the Islamic State
group. Najib said digital media
has emerged as the new frontier
in the anti-terror war to counter
the seductive approaches of the
militants and their lies about
Islam.
Human rights activists have
slammed a law implemented
last year that revives detention
without trial. Critics also voiced
fears that another law approved

last month that gives sweeping

powers to a council led by
the prime minister could be a
step toward dictatorship. Police
earlier said the Islamic State
group had posted a video that
warns of attacks over the arrest
of its members.
Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay,
who heads the national police
counter-terrorism unit, said on
the sidelines of the conference
that the video carried the
Islamic State logo and featured
two Malaysians based in Syria.
He said there were previous
videos with similar warnings
before but this was the first
video with a logo of the
militant group.
They threaten to carry out
attacks in Malaysia if their
members are not released and
more are arrested, said Ayob,
vowing that police will step up
their operations.
On Sunday, police said
they had detained seven men
suspected of being an Islamic
State militant cell that was
plotting attacks. The seven
Malaysians were detained in
several states over three days
after the January 15 detention of
a man police said was planning a
suicide attack in Kuala Lumpur.
Police also seized bullets,
jihad books and Islamic State
flags and videos.

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016 Region

Nominees confirmed for

key Party positions
HANOI (Vietnam News,
ANN) -- Party General
Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong
has been nominated for being
re-elected to the countrys
top post, Central Committee
m e m b e r Vu Tr o n g K i m
confirmed in an interview with
local media on Sunday.
The official also said that
current Deputy Prime Minister
Nguyen Xuan Phuc has been
nominated for the post of Prime
Minister, Public Security
Minister Tran Dai Quang for
President and Vice-Chair of
the National Assembly (NA)
Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan is to
rise to Chairwoman.
Participants in the 12th
National Party Congress
worked in their delegations
yesterday to appraise the
standards and structure of the
12th Party Central Committee
and the list of nominations
fielded by the 11th Party
Central Committee.
Speaking on the sidelines
of the Congress, Kim, an

11th Party Central Committee

member and Vice President
of the Vietnam Fatherland
Front Central Committee,
said the personnel for the
next tenure was thoroughly
prepared during the 12th, 13th
and 14th meetings of the 11th
Party Central Committee.
In particular, the 14th
meeting geared up personnel
for the four key leading
positions. The Politburo
reported that it discussed each
case and reached a consensus.
Some nominees withdrew
proactively.
At the 14th meeting, the
11th Party Central Committee
discussed three options, cast
secret ballots and finally agreed
to nominate incumbent Party
General Secretary Nguyen
Phu Trong to be re-elected to
this position in the next tenure.
Such preparations for key
positions were thorough and
democratic, he said, adding that
the Party Central Committee
the supreme leading body

between two congresses

fulfilled its responsibility
toward the Congress.
In his closing speech at the
14th meeting, Party General
Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong
stressed that the meeting
was successful and sent a
good message on personnel
preparations to the entire
people, Kim noted.
Delegate Cao Duc Phat,
a member of the 11th Party
Central Committee and
Minister of Agriculture and
Rural Development, said that
through a strict process, the
11th Party Central Committee
selected and nominated people
with sufficient qualifications
and virtue to fulfill their roles
in the countrys new phase of
development.
The carefully prepared
files on the candidates serve
as a basis for the Congresss
delegates to consider and
select the most capable and
prestigious people for the 12th
Party Central Committee.

Dozens of deaths blamed on rare

cold snap in Taiwan
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- An
unusually cold weather front
has been blamed for killing
57 mostly elderly people in
Taiwans greater Taipei area.
The cold wave abruptly
pushed temperatures to
a 16-year record low of 4
degrees Celsius (39.2 degrees
Fahrenheit) in the subtropical
capital where most homes lack
central heating, causing heart
trouble and shortness of breath
for many of the victims, a city
official said.
In our experience, its
not the actual temperature
but the sudden drop thats
too sudden for peoples
circulatory systems, said a
city spokesman who identified

himself only by his surname,

Chang.
The cold snap was blamed
in the deaths of 40 people in
the capital, Taipei, while the
neighbouring NewTaipei City
attributed an additional 17 deaths
to the cold weather. Strokes and
hypothermia were among the
causes of death in New Taipei
City, officials there said.
Temperatures in Taipei
average 16 degrees C (60
d e g r e e s F ) i n J a n u a r y,
according to Taiwans Central
Weather Bureau. Because of
the relatively mild norms,
most households in Taiwan
lack central heating, another
suspected factor in the recent
deaths.

New Taipei City said it

was providing shelter for 91
homeless people endangered
by the cold.
The cold front also left
9 centimetres of snow on
Taipeis highest peak Saturday
and stranded vehicles as people
headed into the mountains to
see the snow.
The same polar front
closed schools Monday in
Hong Kong, where 130 people
had been trapped at day earlier
on a peak in the city that also
seldom gets such cold weather.
Hong Kong temperatures
reached 3.1 degrees Sunday.
Temperatures in Taipei are
forecast to reach 17 degrees
Tuesday.

Ferry service on Paturia-Daulatdia

route resumes
BANGLADESH (The Daily
Star, ANN) -- Ferry service
on Paturia-Daulatdia route
resumed this morning after
two hours of disruption caused
by dense fog.
Mahiuddin Russel,
manager of BIWTAs Aricha
station, said they kept
suspended ferry service on the
route from 7:00am to 9:10am

due to blurred visibility caused

by dense fog.
Earlier, the ferry service
on the route was suspended
around 7:00am as thick fog
enveloped the area.
The obstacle left five
ferries remained stranded at
Paturia while six at Daulatdia
ghats. Besides, four ferries Khan Jahan Ali, Kopoti, Hasna

Hena and Shapla Shaluk - were

stranded in the mid-river due
to poor visibility caused by the
fog, he said.
About five hundred
vehicles, including buses,
trucks and cars, remained
stranded along with several
hundred passengers in the midriver and on both ends of this
important route.

Cambodian PM calls for more

investment in rice storage

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks during the opening

ceremony of the 5th Cambodia Rice Forum in Phnom Penh,
Cambodia.
--Photo Xinhua

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua)

-- Cambodian Prime Minister
Hun Sen on Monday called
for more investment in rice
storage facilities and drying
machines in order to increase
the countrys rice export
capacity.
Speaking at the opening
ceremony of the 5th Cambodia
Rice Forum here, Hun Sen

said the lack of rice storage

facilities and drying machines
is a key challenge for the
country in buying a large
amount of paddy rice from
farmers and more investment
in these sectors is needed.
The government of
Cambodia has been negotiating
with China for loans to
construct storage facilities and

drying machines across the

country, he told the forum,
which took part by some 700
people who are policy makers,
rice millers, exporters, farmerrepresentatives, and transport
company representatives.
The prime minister said
China is the largest importer
of milled rice from Cambodia
and expressed his confidence
that the worlds second largest
economy would continue to
support Cambodia in rice
industry development.
Meanwhile, Hun Sen said
the government would continue
to invest in irrigation system,
rice species production, and
transportation infrastructure
in order to facilitate the
development of rice industry.
Cambodia exported a total
of 538,396 tonnes of milled
rice to over 50 countries and
regions last year, up 39 percent
year-on-year, according to the
governments figures.
The Southeast Asian
country made over 9.2 million
tonnes of paddy rice last year.
With this amount, the country
will have over 3 million tonnes
of milled rice left over for
exports this year.

Snow continues in west Japan

JAPAN (Kyodo News,
ANN) -- Swathes of
western Japan and Sea
of Japan coastal areas
continued to see heavy
snowfall Monday due to
a strong winter pressure
pattern, causing
disruption to major
transportation networks
and prompting the
weather agency to warn
against avalanches.
About
110
passengers on a Sanyo
Shinkansen bullet
train bound for ShinOsaka Station stayed
overnight on the train
at JR Okayama Station,
western Japan, after the
train arrived around 2
am on Monday. The
train had been stranded
en route for about
two hours due to a
breakdown of railway
equipment, apparently
caused by snow.
In Nichinan, Tottori
Prefecture on the Sea of
Japan coast, an 88-yearold woman died and
her son and his wife
suffered leg injuries
after a landslide hit their
house at around 4:40 am
Monday.

A shinkansen bullet train (centre) runs in a snow-dusted Nagoya, central

Japan.
--Photo Kyodo

Myanmar military chief voices

support for new govt

Ferry service on Paturia-Daulatdia route resumes after two hours of disruption caused by dense fog.
-- (File photo The Star)

YA N G O N ( X i n h u a ) - Commander-in-Chief of
Myanmars Defense Services
Senior-General Min Aung
Hlaing has voiced support for
the new government and the new
parliament to ensure rule of law
and achieve long-lasting peace
in the country, the official media
reported Monday.
Min Aung Hlaing made
the pledge when he met with
members of the Myanmar Media

Council in Nay Pyi Yaw.

Media are indispensable for
the nation particularly at a time
when the nation is being built
anew. The end of armed conflicts
is of vital importance to peace
and development, he said.
He urged media
professionals to make the public
aware of the democratic practice
and stressed the need to report
events in a positive manner.
The Myanmar Media Council

was formed by 27 members on

November 11, 2015 with U Khin
Maung Lay as chairman. The
current term of the parliament
and the government, produced
through the 2010 general
election and ran from 2011,
will expire on January 30 and
March 30 respectively when a
new parliament and government
will take office in accordance
with the result of the November
8 general election in 2015.

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

World

Magnitude-7.1 quake jolts Alaska; 4 homes lost

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)
-- A magnitude-7.1 quake
knocked items off shelves and
walls in Alaska early Sunday
morning, jolting the nerves of
residents in this earthquakeprone region. There were no
reports of injuries, but four
homes were lost to explosions
or fire following the quake.
Alaskas state seismologist,
Michael West, called it the
strongest earthquake in the
states south-central region in
decades. Alaska often has larger
or more powerful earthquakes,
such as a 7.9 last year in the
remote Aleutian Islands.
However, last nights
earthquake is significant
because it was close enough
t o A l a s k a s p o p u l a t i o n
centers, West said, adding
that aftershocks could continue
for weeks.
The earthquake was widely
felt by Anchorage residents.
But the Anchorage and Valdez
police departments said they
hadnt received any reports of
injuries or significant damage.
The earthquake struck at
about 1:30 am. Alaska time
and was centered 85 kilometres
west of Anchor Point in the
Kenai Peninsula, which is
about 257 kilometres southwest
of Anchorage, according to the
US Geological Survey.
Vincent Nusunginya, 34,
of Kenai said he was at his
girlfriends house when the
quake hit.
It started out as a shaking
and it seemed very much like

Items fallen from the shelves litter the aisles inside a Safeway grocery store following a magnitude 6.8 earthquake on the Kenai
Peninsula.
--Photo AP

a normal earthquake. But

then it started to feel like a
normal swaying, like a very
smooth side-to-side swaying,
said Nusunginya, director
of audience at the Peninsula
Clarion newspaper. It was
unsettling. Some things got
knocked over, but there was
no damage.
Four single family homes in

Kenai were lost to explosions

or fire in the wake of the
earthquake.
Two of the homes were
destroyed in explosions and the
other two were fully engulfed
before firefighters determined it
was safe enough from gas for
them to enter the homes, Kenai
battalion chief Tony Prior said.
No injuries. Thank God,

he said. The second one was

a major explosion. Were
fortunate that no one was hurt.
About 30 homes were
evacuated, and some people
took shelter at the Kenai
National Guard Armory.
Workers with the gas utility
were examining the remaining
homes Sunday afternoon with
the goal of getting displaced

Portugals new president demands

financial discipline
LISBON, Portugal (AP)
-- A center-right candidate
scored a resounding victory
in Portugals presidential
election Sunday, warning
he would use the largely
ceremonial post to prevent
the center-left anti-austerity
government from worsening
the debt-heavy countrys
financial health.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa,
a veteran moderate politician
and law professor, collected
more than half the votes
against nine rivals.
With 99 percent of the
votes counted, Rebelo de
Sousa won 52 percent while

his nearest rival came in with

less than half of that.
Rebelo de Sousa will
move into the head of states
riverside pink palace in Lisbon
in March, replacing Anibal
Cavaco Silva, who has served
the maximum of two five-year
terms.
The president has no
executive power, and is largely
a figurehead, but can be an
influential voice and in a crisis
has the power to dissolve
Parliament if he feels the
country is going off track.
A Socialist minority
government runs Portugal with
the backing of the Communist

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa sings the national anthem after winning

Portugals presidential election.
--Photo AP

Party and the radical Left Bloc.

The government is trying to
pull off a balancing act by
ending austerity measures
while pledging to continue
the financial prudence adopted
after Portugals 78 billion-euro
(US$84 billion) bailout in
2011 amid a eurozone financial
crisis.
The governments critics
say that is a risky policy in
Portugal whose economy is
struggling to gain momentum
and where the jobless rate is
over 11 percent.
Rebelo de Sousa said in his
victory speech he expected the
government to generate more
economic growth without
compromising financial

stability.
At the same time he
promised to be impartial and
encourage consensus between
political parties, healing the
wounds of the recent crisis.
Prime Minister Antonio
Costa vowed his full
cooperation with the
president.
Rebelo de Sousa, 67, has
had a long career in the public
eye, working as a newspaper
editor, a popular media
pundit, a junior member of
governments since the 1970s,
and a former member of the
European Parliament.
Turnout was low Sunday
at 52 percent after a dull twoweek campaign.

residents back in their homes

later in the day.
The USGS initially reported
the quake as a magnitude-7.1,
but downgraded shortly
afterward to magnitude-6.8
before raising it back to 7.1.
The biggest aftershock
Sunday was magnitude-4.7,
and West said a magnitude-5
or magnitude-6 aftershock is

possible.
There were reports of
scattered power outages
from the Matanuska Electric
Association and Chugach
Electric in the Anchorage
area. The Homer Electric
Association reported on its
website that about 4,800
customers were without power
early Sunday in the Kenai
Peninsula.
The Alaska Department
of Transportation reported on
its Facebook page that there
was road damage near the
community of Kasilof, on the
Kenai Peninsula.
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker
said in a statement Sunday that
he was relieved there wasnt
more damage.
He urged all Alaskans to
have a response plan for when
a major natural disaster takes
place.
The hashtag #akquake
trended early Sunday on
Twitter as people shared their
experiences and posted photos
of items that had fallen off
walls and shelves.
Andrew Sayers, 26, of
Kasilof was watching television
when the quake struck.
The house started to shake
violently. The TV we were
watching fell over, stuff fell
off the walls, he said. Dishes
were crashing, and we sprinted
toward the doorway.
Later, he was driving to
his mothers home when he
came across a stretch of road
that was damaged in the quake.

Russia warns of deteriorating

relations with Britain over
poisoned agent case
MOSCOW (Xinhua) -- Russia
has warned that its relations with
Britain could further deteriorate
after a British governments
inquiry said that President
Vladimir Putinmight play a role
in the death of a former Russian
spy in London.
According to the report of a
British public inquiry released
Thursday, former Russian spy
Alexander Litvinenko was
deliberately poisoned and
his murder was probably
approved by Russian President
Vladimir Putin.
In response to the British
report, Russian foreign ministry
spokesperson Maria Zakharova
refuted the allegations, saying
that Britains handling of the case
was opaque and politicized.
An outspoken critic of Putin,
Litvinenko died at a London
hotel in 2006 at the age of
43, after drinking green tea
reportedly laced with the deadly
radioactive polonium.
He fled to Britain in 2000
and became a British citizen
in 2006.
The British report said
Litvinenkos former colleagues
Dmitry Kovtun and Andrey
Lugovoy deliberately poisoned
Litvinenko with polonium-210.
It is said the agent died
three weeks after meeting with
Kovtun and Lugovoy in London,
and British authorities then
suspected the two of poisoning

Litvinenko with the radioactive

isotope.
A public inquiry into
Litvinenkos death was formally
established by the British
government in July 2014.
Lugovoy on Friday said in
a TV show that he would not
leave Russia or go to court to
clear his name.
I dont intend to do that,
because if I go into that, it means
I will attach importance to what
the British are doing, he said.
Lugovoy have said that he
had passed a polygraph test
conducted by British experts,
which proves that he was not
guilty of murdering the former
FSB agent. Kovtun, currently
a businessman, said that the
Russian side continued its own
investigation of the case.
The British side, however,
refused to accept relevant
documents provided by
the Russian Investigative
Committee, Lugovoy added.
A lawmaker of the lower
house of Russian parliament,
the State Duma, Lugovoy
said the British report only
proved Londons anti-Russian
stance, narrow-mindedness and
reluctance to establish the true
cause of Litvinenkos death.
The case has became a
convenient way for London to
achieve its political interests,
RIA Novosti news agency
quoted Lugovoy as saying.

Vientiane Times

Business

Read more news at www.vientianetimes.org.la

Japan trade deficit falls in

2015 on lower oil import costs

Tuesday January 26, 2016

UK helps Lao businesses grow

with British supply chain
Times Reporters

The British Government has introduced

free matching services to help Lao
companies and entrepreneurs find the
suppliers they need. Companies can
sign up for this service by April 15 for
a chance to attend the International
Festival of Business in the UK.
There have been over 80,000
responses from British companies to
overseas business opportunities in the
last two years, and there has been a
year-on-year increase of 95 percent,
demonstrating that the UK is a worldleading hub and very much open for
business.
Trade between Laos and the UK has
also seen steady growth. More and more

British companies are opening branches

in Laos, while Lao companies value
the high quality of British products
and services.
With a network of experienced
companies across all sectors, the UK
Governments free matching service
on https://www.events.ukti.gov.uk/
business-is-great-2016 is enabling
businesses from Laos to benefit from
world-class products and services.
By registering, companies are able
to outline the products or services
they need and the UK Government
will match them with the right British
business partners.
Health, Technology and creative
companies that register their details
before April 15 2016 will not only

benefit from being linked up with

leading British businesses but also
be in with the chance to attend the
International Festival of Business 2016
in Liverpool as part of a bespoke trade
delegation.
British Ambassador to Laos Hugh
Evans said This UK government
service has already helped companies
in Laos to develop their businesses
and we will be helping many more
businesses in the coming years.
The UK has a wealth of experience
in healthcare, technology and the
creative industries sectors and is open
for business. Whatever your business
needs, by registering for this worldleading service, the UK can answer
your call.

S. Koreas ICT exports slipped on weak demand

Workers watch shipping and discharging of containers at a port in Tokyo.

TOKYO (AP) -- Japans trade deficit

fell to its lowest level in four years in
2015, the Finance Ministry reported
Monday, as import costs dropped thanks
to the collapse in oil prices.
Preliminary figures show exports
rose 3.5 percent in 2015 from the year
before, while imports dropped 8.7
percent. The deficit compared with a
record 12.8 trillion yen deficit in 2014.
Japan slipped into deficits after the
2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima
led to closures of reactors, pushing up
imports of oil and gas.
Japans trade balance swung to
a surplus in December, as oil prices
tumbled and the yen gained against
other currencies.
The December trade surplus of
140.2 billion yen (US$1.2 billion)
compared with a deficit of 379.7 billion
yen in November and a deficit of 665.6
billion yen in December 2014.
However, exports have been
weakening over the past year, as Chinas
economy has slowed. After rising 7.9
percent in January-June over the same
period the year before, exports rose a
scant 0.6 percent in July-December.
Exports to China fell 1.1 percent
in 2015, to 13.2 trillion yen (US$95.8
billion), while exports to the US
jumped 11.5 percent to 15.2 trillion
yen (US$128.6 billion), making the
US Japans largest export market.
Japans imports of crude oil, gas
and other fuels plunged 43 percent in
December to 1.4 trillion yen (US$11.8
billion). In 2015, they fell 34 percent,

to 18.2 trillion yen (US$154 billion).

Weaker than expected demand
in China, which is spilling into other
Asian markets, has hamstrung growth in
Japan. Meanwhile, the prolonged bout
of low crude oil prices normally a
boon for a resource-scarce country like
Japan which imports almost all of its oil
and gas is hindering progress toward
a 2 percent inflation goal meant to
mark the end of a long spell of growthdampening deflation.
The contraction in the trade
deficit will likely continue, as further
declines in oil prices have kept the
value of imports declining in the
double digits, Merrill Lynch said
in a commentary. But it added that,
With export momentum still weak,
industrial production should continue
to flat-line.
Analysts said the data raise
pressure on Japans central bank to
further ease its already ultra-loose
monetary policy, partly to counter
recent pressures toward appreciation
of the yen, which gained value against
the US dollar during the recent bout of
gyrations in global financial markets.
In December, Japans exports fell
8 percent from the year before to 6.34
trillion yen (US$53.6 billion), while
its imports dropped 18 percent to 6.2
trillion yen (US$52.5 billion). Exports
to China dropped 8.6 percent while
exports to the US were 3.4 percent
lower than a year earlier. However,
exports of cars rose 17.5 percent to 1.1
trillion yen (US$9.3 billion).

S.KOREA (The Korea Herald,

ANN) -- South Koreas exports
of information communication
technology products dropped 1.9
percent in 2015 from a year earlier
on slow global demand, government
data showed Monday.
Outbound shipments of ICT
products hit US$172.89 billion in
2015, compared to US$176.23 billion
in the year before, according to data
compiled by the Ministry of Trade,
Industry and Energy.
This marked the first on-year

decline since 2012 when it fell 0.9

percent on-year.
South Koreas ICT exports
e x p e r i e n c e d d i ff i c u l t m a r k e t
conditions last year but it did very
well considering that the global ICT
industry growth for 2015 retreated
5.8 percent, said the Trade Ministry
in a press release.
Imports, on the other hand, gained
3.6 percent on-year to hit US$91.32
billion last year, with the country
logging a surplus of US$81.56 billion
in this sector.

The decrease in ICT exports

from Asias fourth-largest economy
was mostly attributed to declining
shipments of display panels and
digital TVs which fell 6.8 percent
and 26.1 percent from a year ago,
respectively.
By region, shipments to China
and the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations rose 3.8 percent and
10.6 percent, respectively, while
those to the European Union and the
United States fell 23.8 percent and
2.6 percent.

A worker makes an examination at a local semiconductor factory.

Exchange rates as of January 25, 2016

Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public

Foreign Currencies

Buying

Selling

US Dollar 50-100

8,136

8,176

Thai Baht

226.66

228.35

Euro 50-500

8,773

8,871

10 Business

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Vientiane Centre eyes

more office tenants

Vientiane Centre General Manager Mr Li Xiaodong (left) shakes hands

with a representative of the Laos-China Railway Company after signing
a three-year contract on office rental in Vientiane yesterday.

Times Reporters

The Vientiane Centre, a highprofile shopping centre in

Vientiane, hopes that the number
of tenants renting commercial
offices will gradually increase
due to the rapid growth of the
investment environment in Laos.
The offices for rent are
located at the back of the
shopping centre on Khouvieng
Road and the company aims to
house many well-known and

mega investment companies.

In a coup for the centre, the
Laos-China Railway Company
signed a three-year contract for
office rental with the Vientiane
Centre yesterday, witnessed by
officials from both sides.
Vientiane Centres offices
for rent are intended to be a
centre for mega investment
companies in Laos because the
Laos-China Railway Company
is the first to sign a rental contract
with us, said the Vientiane

Shopping Centre General

Manager Mr Li Xiaodong at the
signing ceremony.
He said that more wellknown foreign companies will
be placed at the offices but
initially, they must be selected
before renting the offices.
The Vientiane Centre has a
total of eight floors and so far
four floors have been rented by
several companies, with more
expected to sign up this year.
When asked about the
number of shoppers visiting
the centre, Mr Li said there had
been an increase, both in Lao
and foreign visitors. They see
about 3,000 people a day or
about 10,000 visitors a month,
he said. Despite the fact that
the number of shopping malls
in Vientiane is mushrooming,
investors are still looking at
the possibility of taking market
shares in commercial buildings
for office rentals.
The shopping centre
is a jointly developed threephase project by the Yunnan
Construction Engineering
Group Company Limited and
Krittaphong Group Company
Limited.
They have a concession
period of 50 years and the option
to extend for a further 20 years.
The Vientiane Centre is one
part of the three-phase project,
which is being developed on a
5.3 hectare site on Nongchan
marsh in Xaysettha district.

In brief
2015 growth likely missed lowered 6 percent goal

PHILIPPINE (Philippine Daily Inquirer, ANN) -- The economy likely expanded by less than the
6-percent realistic growth rate predicted for last year, mainly due to weak exports, according to
economists polled by the Inquirer last week.
The government will announce the gross domestic product (GDP) growth figures for the fourth
quarter as well as the entire 2015 on Thursday. The domestic economy expanded by an average
of 5.6 percent during the first three quarters of last year.
The governments official growth target for 2015 was 7 to 8 percent, but economic managers
had already conceded that the economy could only grow by 6 percent, which called for a GDP
growth rate of at least 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter.

Apples first European app development centre to open in Naples

ROME (Xinhua) -- The CEO of US technology powerhouse Apple Inc. announced Friday
the company will open its first European centre for developing software for mobile devices in
Italy, a surprise announcement described only in broad strokes and that Italian Prime Minister
MatteoRenzi said could help turn Italy into a new European tech centre. But expert observers
told Xinhua Italy would have to improve the countrys business climate in order for Renzis
vision to come to fruition. Tim Cook, Apples chief executive, announced the initiative after
meeting with Renzi in Palazzo Chigi, the official residence of Italian head of government. In his
remarks, Cook said Italys potential as a high-tech center was on the rise.

Major Australia cities considered severely unaffordable: report

CANBERRA (Xinhua) -- Surging house prices in Australias largest cities has contributed to the
nation being the second least-affordable country to buy a house, a report revealed on Monday.
Runner-up to only Hong Kong, the results of a study by Demographia revealed that the typical
Australian house costs 5.6 times the median household income. The study also showed that in
2016, Australias largest city, Sydney, the house price-to-income ratio had suffered the largest
annual increase in the studys 12-year history.As of 2016, a typical house in Sydney will set a
homeowner back an average of 12.2 times their wage, up from 9.8 times their income in 2014.

Brazilian towns cancel carnival parties amid economic crisis

RIO DE JANEIRO (Xinhua) -- As Brazil is feeling the pinch from a deepening economic crisis,
at least 48 towns across the country have decided to cancel carnival festivities due to lack of
resources. Many of the towns affected by economic woes are in the northern states of Paraiba,
Rio Grande do Norte and Tocantins, the central states of Goias and Rondonia and the southern
states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, according to web portal G1.
The Brazilian economy shrank 3.8 percent in 2015 as the price of oil and other raw materials
that Brazil exports plunged. The International Monetary Fund said it expected Brazils economy
to contract 3.5 percent this year and remain stagnant in 2017. It shrank by 3.8 percent in 2015,
according to the fund.

Humanoid robots start to

take on growing range of jobs

Toshiba Corp.s female robot Chihira Junko attends to a customer at an information center at Aqua
City Odaiba in Minato Ward, Tokyo.

JAPAN (The Yomiuri Shimbun,

ANN) -- Humanoid robots,
which move almost as naturally
as humans, are fulfilling an
increasingly broad range of roles
in society.
Behind their popularity are
improvements in sound and
image recognition technologies,
and the ability to manufacture
robots with highly developed
powers of expression. These
robots are currently used just
to attract public attention, and
further technical innovation and
a reduction in manufacturing
costs are essential requirements
to disseminate such robots more
widely.
Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings
is one company eyeing the
use of humanoid robots, and
has begun studying how to
introduce information clerk
robots at its department stores.
As an initial step, it plans to
have robots handle reception
services and inquiries at stores
in central Tokyo in a few years.
Isetan Mitsukoshis future
vision calls for the robots to
take orders, fetch goods and talk
with customers. Human sales
staff will concentrate entirely
on such things as providing

detailed explanations of goods,

leading to better customer
service.
Toshiba Corp. installed a
female robot called Chihira
Junko at a commercial complex
in Minato Ward, Tokyo, last
year. When users operate an
input screen, the robot provides
information on tourist facilities
and other subjects in Japanese,
English or Chinese.
Beginning with androids,
who made their appearance
in a French science-fiction
novel in the latter half of the
19th century, humanoid robots
have been depicted in novels,
films and comics. Honda Motor
Co.s Asimo, a robot capable
of walking on two legs, made
its debut at the end of the 20th
century.
Robots capable of learning
for themselves via artificial
intelligence have increased, with
SoftBank Group Corp.s Pepper
attracting attention lately.
At a hotel in Huis Ten Bosch,
a resort facility in Nagasaki
Prefecture, robots have been
in charge of checking in guests
since last July. The novelty of
this development has attracted
customers, and reductions in staff

costs are expected.

Nomura Research Institute
(NRI) has indicated the
possibility that about half of
Japans labor force could be
replaced by robots or artificial
intelligence within the next 10
to 20 years, particularly those
in roles such as supermarket
checkouts or cleaning.
According to the market
research company Fuji Keizai
Co., the scale of the humanoid
robot market is expected to grow
rapidly, from 1.7 billion in 2014
to 24 billion in 2020.
In order for robots to become
more common, it is necessary
to anticipate situations in which
they could actually play a role.
However, NRIs Tomota Terada
said: Japan is still focusing on
robot manufacturing itself. US
and other foreign firms have a
greater appetite for putting them
to use.
Robots capable of carrying
out precise tasks or holding
high-level conversations are
expensive to manufacture, and
mass production is currently
difficult. Makers should have a
customer-oriented perspective
to develop robots to match the
users needs.

Britain must be in forefront of fourth

industrial revolution: Business Secretary
LONDON (Xinhua) -- Britains
Business Secretary, the MP
Sajid Javid, said Sunday he is
to launch a major innovation
plan for Britain to herald a new
industrial revolution.
Hailing the start of a fourth
industrial revolution, Javid
said he wants to make Britain
a beacon of new ideas and
innovation.
In a speech released in
London by the governments
Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills, Javid
said: Britain has a long and
proud history as a hotbed
of innovation. We led the
Industrial Revolution over 200
years ago when scientific leaps
and technological innovations
brought enormous economic
benefits and dramatic
improvements to living
standards.
Today, we are living at

a time of rapid technological

change with innovations
in fields such as big data,
robotics, drones and synthetic
biology holding the potential to
revolutionise the way we work
and live our lives - bringing big
opportunities for businesses
to tap into these lucrative new
markets, said Javid.
We have the talent, skills
and potential to be a similarly
dominant force in what is being
called the fourth industrial
revolution, said Javid.
Trailing his forthcoming
announcement, Javid said:
In the coming months I will
launch a new innovation plan,
bringing together the whole
of government to support and
drive forward innovation.
He said the new plan
will be aimed at all levels of
business, such as the small
company that created solar-

power mobile chargers for

people in rural communities,
to Britains biggest innovators
like its pharmaceutical giants.
I also want to make the UK
the world leader in disruptive
and emerging technologies,
from graphene to driverless
cars, he said.
When we publish this new
innovation plan, the UK will
have a clear framework setting
out our approach to ensuring we
are leading this fourth industrial
revolution, just as much as we
did the first, he added.
The first Industrial
Revolution started in Britain
around the mid-1700s and
spanned many decades. It saw
a transition going from hand
production methods to the age
of the machine, marking a major
turning point in history, with
almost every aspect of daily life
influenced in some way.

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Lao stock market report

Business 11

Asean Economic Community

Trade Summary
The LSX suffered a minor loss of 1.60 points on Monday, following the 100 kip decrease
of the newly listed stock, SVN. The index managed to close at 1,180.08 points with thin
trading volumes of 6,800 shares, mostly EDL-Gens.
EDL-Gen closed unchanged at 5,900 kip for the trading of 5,100 shares, while BCEL also
closed at 5,200 kip during the previous session. The only loser today was SVN, shedding
100 kip to finish at 3,300 kip after closing at 3,400 kip for ten sessions in a row. The other
two stocks, LWPC and PTL, saw no change in prices.
Daily Turnover by Investor Types (LAKm)

Last 7 days Trading Information

E-commerce platform to
promote Lao products to AEC

Chairman and CEO of AEK Group Company Limited, Mr Oudasack Lasoukanh (right), shakes hands
with Lao Development Bank Deputy Managing Director, Mr Khamsing Sengkeomahavong, after signing
an e-commerce and ICT development cooperation agreement in Vientiane last week.

Souknilundon
Southivongnorath

BCEL-KT Securities Company Limited Email: Broker@bcel-kt.com

Slow pace of regional trade may

become the new norm, say experts
Tourists at the
Merlion Park in
Singapore.

A new benchmark e-commerce

platform is set to promote Lao
products to the Asean Economic
Community within the next few
months, according to a local
entrepreneur.
All Lao products, property
and other trade will be listed
online at www.laomall.la with a
specific emphasis on promoting
the nation within the AEC.
Chairman and CEO of AEK
Group Company Limited, Mr
Oudasack Lasoukanh, told
Vientiane Times on Friday that
he got the idea from overseas
visits and was determined to
adapt the concept to Laos.
I saw so many websites in
other countries promoting their
products and asked myself why
we cant do that here in Laos,
he said.
Mr Oudasack said Laos was
focusing on turning itself into a
land-linked nation to integrate

with other Asean Community

members.
We are a landlocked country
so becoming a land link is a good
way to promote local products
to the region and I see the
e-commerce platform as being
important to this, he said.
The AEK Group has
gathered local IT engineers
to develop the platform since
October 2015 while adhering
to the Law on Electronic
Transactions.
The platform is expected
to be fully operational in the
next two months but a beta
version can already be accessed.
The company is working with
the Ministry of Science and
Technology as well as the One
District, One Product (ODOP)
initiative in the development,
and to upload local products
onto the site.
The company last week
signed an e-commerce and ICT
cooperation agreement with
the Lao Development Bank

and plans to collaborate with

logistics companies on product
deliveries.
We will sell everything
through the platform except
prohibited items like drugs,
alcohol, weapons and other
things, Mr Oudasack said.
The website will not only
sell local products Laos but is
welcoming those from other
countries, particularly Asean
nations.
Lao people can buy
something from Vietnam or
Thailand and those people can
also buy things from Laos,
he said.
Vientiane Times found
several websites selling similar
products online but the AEK
Group e-commerce platform
is somewhat different, having
formalised cooperation with
related sectors and banks.
We would like to make
the site perfect before officially
launching it in the next two
months, Mr Oudasack said.

Japan prefecture to
expand trade with Brunei
SINGAPORE (The Straits
Times, ANN) -- Aseans ongoing
trade slump might become the
regions new normal, some
economists have warned.
The regional trade recession,
which has had significant
impact on Singapores small
open economy, is not just a
temporary result of tepid
global growth, according to
ANZ economists Ng Weiwen
and Glenn Maguire. Slower
growth in large economies like
the United States and China has
been weighing on regional trade
since the global financial crisis,
they noted in a report released.
Even the most optimistic
of forecasts indicate that
future growth in the US and
China is going to be mediocre
compared to historical averages,
and certainly not as stellar as
seen during Aseans high trade

growth period, they said. This

means for each unit of economic
growth, imports are expanding
less than they used to.
Besides slower economic
growth, the slide in demand
for Asian exports can also
be attributed to longer-term
structural trends, said the
economists. The US economy
is on the road to recovery but
growth has been largely driven
by services instead of the goods
trade.
Meanwhile, China is also
becoming less exposed to
international trade as it shifts
away from an industrialled growth model towards
consumption and services.
This means Chinese
companies are increasingly
sourcing from within the country
instead of importing, said the
economists. This reconfiguration

of supply chains will lead

to a profound structural shift
in regional trade, especially
with China emerging both as a
customer and competitor rather
than merely a factory assembler,
they added. China is Singapores
top trading partner and export
destination.
But other economists were
not as downbeat, and believe that
the slowing trade is a symptom of
a broader transition to a different
model of regional trade.
For one thing, intra-Asean
trade will grow in importance
relative to the regions trade with
China or the US, said United
Overseas Bank economist
Francis Tan.
This big structural shift
will mirror a similar transition
the region experienced over the
past two decades as China rose
to global prominence.

BRUNEI (The Brunei Times, ANN) -- A Japanese

prefecture is hoping to increase its trade with
the sultanate by tapping into the market access
provided by the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
In an interview, Masami Futsuhara, vice
chairman of the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly,
said the prefecture, which specialises in
agricultural produce and food detection
technologies, is keen on using the TPP to boost
trade with Brunei.
Futsuhara was part of an eight-member
delegation from the Miyazaki Prefectural
Assembly of Japan which recently visited Brunei
for potential business opportunities.
We believe that the TPP will better facilitate
trade, in this case, for agricultural products. The
TPP will open up trade and give us more market
access, he told The Brunei Times.
He said the prefecture has a policy exchange
with East Asia in line with its strategy to promote
farm exports. Weve exported to countries such
as Taiwan, Hong Kong and also Singapore but we
have a desire to expand our agricultural exports
into other markets, he said.
Miyazaki Prefecture is located on Kyushu
Island, one of the four main islands in the Japanese
archipelago which houses other prefectures.

According to a 2007 research paper by

an independent Japanese international affairs
organisation, Kyushu island has been a focal point
for exchange with East Asian countries beginning
in the 1990s when Chinese and South Korean
economies were surging.
In the paper, Tadashi Yamamoto, president
of the Japan Centre for International Exchange,
said the seven prefectures in Kyushu have often
competed with each other to seek better ties
with their East Asian counterparts. Meanwhile,
Futsuhara said the Miyazaki Prefecture, which is
located in the southwestern part of Japan, is well
positioned to deal with Asian neighbours and is
keen to introduce its products to Asean.
Negotiations for the TPP concluded in October
5 in the US, after about five years in which member
countries laboured to strike balanced trade deals.
The agreement is expected to set the stage for 21st
century trade and investment rules in the AsiaPacific region.
TPP will create a market with a combined GDP
of US$30 trillion - which accounts for 40 percent
of global GDP - once it is ratified.
The TPP member countries are Australia,
Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico,
New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam.

12

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

CARE International in Lao P.D.R

Short Term Consultant
CARE International in Lao PDR is seeking applications for a INTERNATIONAL and/or /
NATIONAL consultant to carry out a baseline assessment and mid-term review for the
Northern Uplands Promoting Climate Resilience project for Remote Ethnic Communities
in Phongsaly province, funded by the European Union. The objective of the project is to
enable improved resilience of remote ethnic upland communities, in particular women, to
the impact of climate variability and change. The project focuses on three results:
1) Improved capacity of local stakeholders to assess, plan, and implement CBA in a
participatory and gender sensitive manner.
2) Improved community resilience through the implementation of CCA and DRR pilot
interventions that benefit women in particular
3) Comprehensive documentation informs mainstreaming and an enabling CCA/DRR policy
environment for the Northern Uplands.
The project will strengthen the capacity of farmer groups to promote understanding of
climate-related risks to their livelihoods and adaptive measures. The project works with 30
farmer groups in three districts of Phongsaly. It also engages local government stakeholders
into adaptation planning, aiming at increasing their ability to integrate adaptation planning
at policy level.
The baseline assessment is conducted at the beginning of year two of project implementation
as at this stage of the project farmer groups have decided on preferred livelihood options
that will increase climate resilience. The baseline will collect qualitative and quantitative
data against select baseline indicators. Key indicators relate to assessing the resilience of
agricultural livelihoods at household level (such as income, prices, and yields from certain
crops as well as asset ownership) as well as data on common agro-ecology practices, such
as practices of inter-cropping and attitudes towards adopting changes in agro-ecology
practices. The baseline will also explore gender relations, in particular with regards to
workload sharing for the particular livelihood options selected as part of village adaptation
plans as well as womens control over assets and access to information.
The formative mid-term review will be conducted at the same time as the baseline and will
assess efficiency, effectiveness and relevance of the project strategies towards achieving the
overall objective to date. It will also include an assessment of how the project is integrating
gender aspects and provide recommendations on enhancing contribution to transforming
unequal gender relations. An assessment of key partnerships will also be part of this MTR.
Objectives of the consultancy
The key objectives of the consultancy are to provide the following:
1. Baseline assessment of key project indicators.
2. Formative mid-term review.

Vacancy Announcement National Staff Only

Community Development and Monitoring &
Evaluation Officer (CD/M&E officer)
Fondation Caritas Luxembourg (Caritas) is an international non-government organization, working for the fundamental
rights of all people to secure access to food, water, health, education, employment and income, around the world.
In Lao PDR Caritas works in Thathom district, Saysomboun Province and Mok district, Xiengkhouang Province,
to eradicate poverty and hunger through sustaining rural livelihood security, reducing community vulnerability
to disaster, promotion of Climate Change Adaptation, human capital and economic development, advocacy, and
gender and community empowerment.
We are now looking for an experienced, and highly motivated Lao National CDO/M&E for Community Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management (CDRRM) Project Phase II and Strengthening Livelihood System Project (SLSP),
in Mok district, Xiengkhouang Province.
Key Responsibility:
1. Work closely with Caritas project team members to support district relevant officers to conduct PRA for those
villages that have not complete theirs, support district government counterparts to review VDP annually.
2. Develop and strength appropriate M&E system for the project to ensure that project implementation progress
is follow regularly: monthly, quarterly, six month and annually.
3. Facilitate district government counterpart to prepare report, compile and summary finding from project
monitoring and evaluating by using developed formed regularly.
(Job Description is available upon request. Interested candidates are strongly advised to study it before applying)
Requirements Essential:
At least Bachelor in Natural Resource Management or Forest and Environmental management or relate fields.
At least 3 years successful full time field experience of similar responsibilities with another international
organization, in development assistance, and/or disaster risk reduction.
Excellent experience and skills in community development including promoting income generation and village
development fund (Saving and Credit).
Excellent knowledge of designing M&E methodology and tools relevant to the development context.
Excellent IT skills and knowledge relevant to MIS, Data base management, excel, etc.
Ability to comprehend the participatory community development practice and its application.
Ability to work collaboratively and successfully with local communities and local government.
Ability to live, work in Mok district and well understand living condition in the remote area.
Good knowledge of English in written and spoken skills.
Good communication and able to work in a team environment.
Willing to learn and strong desire to assist poor and vulnerable communities in rural areas.
Requirements Desirable:
Knowledge of ethnic minority language (ie., Hmong and Khmu) or willingness to learn
Specific knowledge or skills in Natural resource Management or Forest & Environmental management.
Experience working in the government sector in rural areas
Ability to think and plan strategically
Candidates who meet the requirements are invited to apply by sending: Application letter, updated Curriculum
Vitae (CV) and copies of relevant certificate by e-mail to the Administration Manager at: keo@carluxlao.org or
Orasa.lattanavong@carluxlao.org or sending your application to: House No. 111, Unit 06, Ban Saphanthong Neua,
Sisattanak District, Vientiane Capital P.O Box: 2079; Tel/Fax: (+856) 21- 412 683 .
Applications will close on 29th January 2016
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview

Roles and responsibilities

In consultation with CARE staff, the consultant is responsible for:
Designing the research methodology
Implementing the agreed methodology
Training data collectors and oversee data collection
Support data collectors to work effectively and to achieve research goals, as well as
learning outcomes
Entering and analysing data, drawing on experience of CARE staff and partners through
workshop discussions
Presenting the initial results to stakeholders
Documenting outcomes (report + data)
Preparation of a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the study findings for use by
CARE with external audiences.
CARE will ensure effective administrative support for the assessment, and provide inputs
into the research process, as determined by the agreed methodology. CARE will also make
available preparatory documentation.
Application
The application should include a basic work-plan (indicating availability/timing), brief letter
of expression of interest and introduction, budget, and sample of a similar piece of work.
At a minimum, the quote should include the following:
Fixed price package rate for this assignment, including any flights, accommodation etc,
as necessary
A concept paper of the proposed methodology
Detailed research plan
Timing
To be carried out during February-March 2016.
Selection criteria
1 Experience

At least 5 years of experience conducting qualitative and quantitative

research on climate change adaptation and gender relations, preferably
with a focus on South East Asia. Technical Advisory experience in
developing and implementing monitoring systems of climate change
adaptation programmes is an asset.
2 Qualification Relevant post graduate qualifications
3 Technical skills Survey (e.g. PRA), training (participants in PRA), analytical skills, report
writing. Proven skills in tools for monitoring of resilience is an advantage.
Ability to work autonomously, and demonstrated skills in leading a
research project.
4 Language
Excellent written and spoken English language skills.

Experience in the region and Lao language skills are desirable
5 References
A minimum of two referee contacts who have managed the proposed
consultant previously
As a matter of course, all consultants are subject to the following policies:
CARE Lao Child Protection Policy
Terrorist Check Safety and Security Management Plan
CARE Code of Conduct
How to apply:
Please request the full ToR from: CARE-LAO Head office in Vientiane, CARE Laos, PO Box
4328, 329/25 Sibounheuang Road, Ban Sibounheuang, Vientiane, Or e-mail to request:
Lao.contracts@careint.org
Deadline for application submissions is COB 28th January 2016

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

13

14

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

INDIA @ 67
India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a kaleidoscopic variety and rich
cultural heritage. It has achieved all-round socio-economic progress during the last 67
years of its Independence. India has become self-sufficient in agricultural production
and is now one of the top industrialised countries in the world and one of the few nations to have gone into outer space to conquer nature for the benefit of the people. It
covers an area of 3,287,590 sq. km (1,269,346 sq mi), extending from the snowcovered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south. As the 7th largest
country in the world, India stands apart from the rest of Asia, marked off as it is by
mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct geographical entity. Bounded
by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the
Arabian Sea on the west.
Vice-President HE M. Hamid Ansari
paid an official visit to Lao PDR from
17 18 September, 2015. This was
the first visit by an Indian Vice President to the country. During the visit he
met and held talks with H. E Mr.
Bounnhang Vorachith, Vice President.
He called on President H.E Mr Choummaly Sayasone and met the Prime
Minister, H E Mr. Thongsing Thammavong; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Mr.
Thongloun Sisoulith and the Vice President of the National Assembly, H E Dr.
Xaysomphone Phomvihane. He laid a wreath at the Soldiers Memorial and also visited
the That Luang Stupa. In the presence of both the
Vice Presidents, the Umbrella Agreement on implementation of Quick Impact Projects in Laos was
signed and the Air Services Agreement between
the two countries was initialed. The completed
Irrigation Projects in Champassak Province undertaken through a GOI line of credit of US$ 17.34
million was formally handed over to the Lao side.
An announcement of gifting of 40 computer sets
and other office equipment to the Kaysone Phomvihane Academy of National Defence was made
during the visit.

All Lao alumni of Indian Universities

and Training Institutions got together
to relive their days in India on 7 October, 2015 at the Indian Embassy. There

are around 1500 Laotians, who have availed

of Government of India scholarships in various disciplines over the years.

Message from Ambassador of India, H E Mr. Ravi Shankar Aisola

67th REPUBLIC DAY OF INDIA

India has enjoyed longstanding, friendly and mutually supportive relations with Lao Peoples Democratic
Republic (PDR). This relationship is based upon profound historical and civilizational foundations. India had supported national liberation movements, the independence of colonized countries and the safeguarding of the newly acquired freedom by countries in the region. India was also Chairman of the International Commission for Supervision
and Control (ICSC) on Indo-China.
Political: There exist excellent political relations between India and Lao PDR. India appreciates Lao PDRs support
on major issues of regional and international concerns to India,
including our claim for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
Diplomatic Relations: were established in February
1956. In 2016, we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations. A number of high-level visits have
taken place between the two countries which include:
Visits from India
President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1956 and President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil in Sep, 2010.
Vice President, M. Hamid Ansari in September, 2015
Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1954, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in 2002 and Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh, in 2004 for ASEAN Summit
Visits from Lao PDR
Prince Souphanouvong, commonly known as the Red Prince in 1977.
President H.E. Mr. Choummaly Sayasone in August 2008.
Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Thongsing Thammavong on December 20-21, 2012.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr.Thongloun Sisoulith,
in Jan 2010 for 6th JCM meeting, in Sep,2012 for MGC Ministerial Meeting and in
Nov,2013 for ASEM FMMM11 and in August, 2015 for the 8th
JCM Meeting.
Economic and Commercial: Lao PDR and India have signed
several agreements over the past few years, laying down the
essential framework for bilateral cooperation in matters relating
to science, technology, economic cooperation and trade, as well
as in defence and consular matters.
Projects under Lines of Credit: A number of projects have been
supported through Indian Lines of Credit over the past few
years. These include Transmission Lines, Equipment for rural electrification, hydropower projects. Irrigation
schemes, construction of Storage dams and Development of Irrigation systems etc.
Human Resource Development: India provides over 200 scholarships annually to Lao nationals under various
schemes. The Lao-India Entrepreneurship Development Centre set up in November, 2004, trains Lao entrepreneurs
for setting up small and medium scale business. The Lao India Centre for English Language Training set up in 2007 is
one of our assistance projects in human resource development.
Bilateral Trade: Metals, ores, machinery, electronic equipment, pharmaceuticals and timber are the main products
traded between India and Laos. India has accorded the Duty Free Tariff Preference Scheme (DFTP) to Lao PDR. The
Scheme grants Laos duty free access to 94% of Indias total tariff lines.
Restoration of World heritage site at Vat Phou: An on-going project undertaken by the Archeological Survey of
India at a cost of US$ 4.1 million.
Defence Cooperation: A two member Indian Army Training Team has been providing training support at Kaysone
Phomvihane Academy of National Defence, Vientiane .
Indian Diaspora: The 400-strong Indian community has grown in profile over the years. It is engaged in jewellery
trade, the restaurant and hotel industry, manufacturing, garments, mining, plantations and agarwood. A few members work for international organizations, multinationals, consulting organizations and private busi-

On the very happy occasion of Indias 67 th Republic Day, I extend my

greetings to Indian nationals living in Laos, Laotians of Indian origin
and the people of Laos. Laos has a special place in the heart of India
and figures prominently in Indias Act East policy. While India
has extensive trade and commercial connection with all the ASEAN
countries, our cooperation with the
CLMV countries is of special importance to us. The recently concluded
India-CLMV Business Conclave in Mamallapuram in India is one example of
this connection. We look forward to the day when a large number of Indian
companies both in manufacturing and services sector are present in Laos catering
goods and services not only to the market of Lao PDR but to all of ASEAN and
rest of the world. I also take this opportunity to wish the people and Government of Lao PDR the very best for their chairmanship of ASEAN this year. I
equally wish them a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. Jai Hind!
Make in India initiative was launched globally in September 2014 as a
part of Indias renewed focus on Manufacturing. The objective of the Initiative is to promote India as the most preferred global manufacturing destination. the Government of India has taken several reform initiatives to
create an enabling environment for providing an impetus to manufacturing, design, innovation and startups. India has emerged as the fastest
growing economy globally. Indias rate of growth of 7.5% is accelerating
and it remains an oasis of growth in the midst of a subdued economic
landscape across the world. The Honble Prime Minister has given impetus to growth with several innovative initiatives such as Make in India,
Digital India, 100 Smart Cities and Skill India.

To make India ready for a knowledgebased future. Focus of US$ 17 billion initiative is on
using technology to create a participative, transparent and responsive government.

To accelerate the efforts

to
achieve
universal
sanitation coverage and
to put focus on sanitation.

The 8th Meeting of the Joint Commission between India

and Lao PDR took place in New Delhi on 10 August, 2015.
HE Mrs Sushma Swaraj,
Minister of External
Affairs and Overseas
Indian Affairs led the
Indian side while the Lao
side was led by Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, HE Mr Thongloun
Sisoulith. The entire gamut of bilateral relations was discussed and future areas of cooperation prioritized. The
Lao dignitary also called on the Vice President of India, H E Mr. M Hamid Ansari.
Make in India has already created a strong impact in form of improved
business environment and economic growth:
India is now 1st amongst the worlds most attractive investment destinations
1st amongst worlds fastest growing economies
1st among 100 countries on the growth, innovation, and leadership
index
1st amongst 110 investment destinations polled globally
7th most valued national brand in the world
Indias rank jumped 12 positions in Ease of Doing Business 2016 list
by World Bank
To provide core infrastructure and
give a decent quality of life to
citizens, a clean and sustainable
environment and application of
Smart Solutions. Focus on Sustainable and inclusive development.

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

of India

Get together, be the strength of the nation and help it reach

greatest heights! Best wishes on this Republic Day
Greetings from HSMM Group of Companies
EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

15

16

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Vientiane Times

Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF)

Request for Expression of Interest for
National Nutrition Officer
Country:
Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
Project:
Poverty Reduction Fund
Description: Recruitment of the position National Nutrition Officer
Grant No.:
H685-LA
Project No.:
P 123480
Review by the donors: Post review
Issue Date:
January 22, 2016
Closing Date: January 31, 2016
The Government of Laos, with support from the World Bank, Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation and AusAID has set up the Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF) to deliver small scale development
project including support to livelihood improvement and nutrition security activity at the Kumban and
Village levels. The project is now seeking for a qualified candidate to fulfil the position of National
Nutrition Officer:
Required Qualifications and Experience:
Master degree in Health and/or Nutrition, Social Sciences, Rural Development, Economics,
Development studies or other relevant field;
At least 5 years of experience in multi-sectoral project management (including project planning,
implementation and coordination, M&E, institutional strengthening, etc) in decentralized and
Community Development approaches is required;
At least 5 years of relevant technical working experience in community nutrition, such as villagebased nutrition management, home gardens, health and nutrition service delivery (including at-home
counseling), and/or mother and child health (MCH).
Experience in working with in particular training of ethnic groups in mountainous and remote
areas through bottom-up and participatory approaches reflective of community needs;
Experience in the implementation of program with focus on gender promotion;
Experience in agriculture-based nutrition activities, handicraft or other micro-enterprise will be a
plus;
Experience in training of Project staff for community development operations;
Strong analytical skills for project design and for incorporating of best practices and lesson learned;
Excellent knowledge of the different stakeholders involved in rural development activities in Lao
PDR (government and donors community);
Fluency in English and Lao (writing, editing, reporting and speaking);
Perfect command of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Email and Internet);
Familiarity with projects financed by the World Bank is an advantage;
Women and people from small ethnic groups are encouraged to apply;
Please see the detailed job description on PRF website http://www.prflaos.org or they can be
obtained at PRF Office).
All interested applicants should submit (1) a cover letter outlining clearly how the candidate meets the
required qualifications and experience of the position mentioned above, (2) a detailed CV with one
(3x4) photo and (3) supporting documents (certificate of the most recent employment, certificates of
qualification/graduation, a list of at least three referees from most recent work places, etc) to the HR
Officer, Poverty Reduction Fund, Governments Office 501 building, Sisavathtai Village, Chanthabouly
District, P.O Box 4625 Vientiane, Tel: 021 261479 - 80, Email: piengngeune@prflaos.org & khemphone@
prflaos.org.
Please note that all submitted documents will not be returned.
Deadline for applications: January 31, 2016
Only the first ranked candidate will be contacted for negotiation

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Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

17

LAO PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE
Small and Medium Enterprises Access to Finance Project
Credit No. 5471-LA, Grant No. H958-LA

JOB VACANCY

COMPANY OVERVIEW
HAZAMA ANDO CORPORATION (HAC) is Japanese contractor, we had developed in Lao PDR from 1968
and had constructed Nam Ngum Hydro Power project, National Highway No.9, Vientiane International
Airport Expansion project and others.
GENERAL
HAC is starting construction of Vientiane (Wattay) International Airport Terminal Expansion
project with world class engineering and looking for Project Staff for Electrical work, Plumbing
and Air condition work for building and Accounting work .
Location of work: Vientiane (Wattay) International Airport
Re : Electrical work, Plumbing and Air condition work for building
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Studies specifications and design according to construction stage.
Check time schedule and shop drawing on construction site.
Coordinates the work with subcontractor and building users according to site conditions.
Manage safety and quality control on the site.
Make daily report including manpower, progress, quality control, safety control and schedule
control.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
University diploma or equivalent required.
Fluent written/spoken in English language is strong required.
Hard worker and very good communicate skill as coordinator.
Proficient computer skills (MS office, AUTOCAD, MS Project).
Experience of construction work field.
Re :Accounting work
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Daily Petty Cash transaction and record
Record and prepare monthly accounting statement
Prepare monthly payroll
Any other work relating to accounting
JOB REQUIREMENTS
University diploma or equivalent required.
Work experience for accounting
Capability of communication (speak/listen/write/read) in English language
Computer skills (MS office).
Interested candidates are asked to mail/hand delivery or e-mail their application with a comprehensive
CV and cover letter explaining their motivations in English to the listed address;
By Mail or Hand delivery: Please submit to HAZAMA ANDO CORPORATION

Attn :Mr.Bounchanh (Administration Manager)

Wattay International Airport

Souphanouvong Rue, Ban Wattay, Sikhottabong District

Vientiane Capital Lao P.D.R., P.O.BOX 3372
By e-mail: Please submit to Mr. Bounchanh (Administration Manager) : bounchanh.c@ad-hzm.co.th
The dead line for applicant is 1st February, 2016
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESS OF INTEREST

ProjectCoordinator
The Government of Lao PDR is receiving support from the World Bank Group for improving access to
finance by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the Small and Medium Enterprises Access to
Finance Project (the Project). The objective of the Project is to provide long-term funding sources for
banks to provide long-term credit to small and medium enterprises. This will be achieved by increasing
the supply of long-term finance provided by commercial banks and by strengthening the capability of
DOSMEP to formulate and implement public policies that promote access to finance for SMEs. The
Project includes three components: 1) A Line of Credit Facility; 2) A Risk Sharing Facility; and 3)
Technical Assistance.
As part of the Component 3 above, the DOSMEP is looking for a dynamic and experienced Full Time
National Consultant to fill the position ofthe above position to assist DOSMEP in the management and
coordination of the SME Access to Finance Project.
The Consultant is expected to be hired for the 40 months periodand will be called upon to assist
DOSMEP as per the scope of work. The contract duration maybe adjusted up or down if required at
the sole discretion of DOSMEP. The full text of the ToR can be accessed at the NIUs website: http://
t4dlaos.org/index.php/en/work-with-us/vacancies.
In order to qualify for this position, the candidates shall meet the following experience and competence
requirements:
Minimum Bachelor Degrees in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Engineering, Science
or related field
Minimum 5 years of working experience with Lao national development projects funded by
international donors
Work experience under WB financed projects is highly preferable
At least 2 years of experience in a project management unit of donor funded projects
Good understanding of the government policy with respect to SME development
Knowledge and experience related to SMEs promotion and SME banking services will be desirable
English language fluency in reading, writing and speaking is mandatory
High degree of computer literacy, and intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office
Package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)and internet
Sound project management skills with a strong focus on attention to detail and deadlines, coordination
and working with a diverse group of staff and consultants and other stakeholders
The Consultant will be selected in accordance with the World Banks Guidelines Selection and
Employment of Consultants, Individual Consultants (IC) selection method, January 2011.
The NIU now invites interested eligible consultants to provide information indicating that you are
qualified to perform the services (curriculum vitae with expressions of interest and references). Interested
consultants may obtain further information at the address below. Expressions of interest must be
delivered to the address below or no later than January 29, 2016, 16:00 oclock (submissions via
email are also acceptable).
To: Mr. KeophouthoneInthivong, Procurement Officer, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, National
Implementation Unit (NIU), Ban Phonxay, Xaysettha District, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR, Tel:
+856(21) 41 39 16 45 39 82; Fax: +856(21) 41 39 16, E-mail:keophouthone.in@laosaft.org; Attn:Mr.
PhouviengPhongsa, NIU Director.
Noted: Only Short-listed candidates will be contacted for the interview.

18

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Vientiane Times

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

19

Lifestyle

Residents of Naxaithong district light a fire to keep themselves warm.

Stylish jackets on offer in a Vientiane shop.

Locals rug up as
cold snap bites
old daughters.
The father-of-two noted that
i t h n i g h t the temperature fell sharply on
m i n i m u m Sunday but he didnt want to go
temperatures shopping due to the wind and
f a l l i n g
below 10 degrees Celsius and
maximums only creeping into
the low teens, Vientiane shops
have been doing a great trade in
jackets and thick coats.
Along Kamphaengmeuang
Road in Donkoy village, Ms Tik
gets up early to open her shop
selling jackets and sweaters
ready for customers.
The clothing comes in a
variety of sizes, styles and
colours so that people of all ages
can choose their favourite.
rain. To beat the cold, Naxaithong
Reading the size on the neck resident Mr Phet collected some
of a black jacket, Mr Phet asks wood to make a fire.
Ms Tik to look for smaller sizes
He explained that while his
suitable for his 5- and 7-year- two daughters each had a jacket

Xayxana Leukai

he thought it wasnt enough

with the weather forecast
predicting low temperatures
for the rest of the week. I need
to buy one or two more jackets

The low temperatures are expected

to continue this month so everyone

is advised to keep warm, especially
children and the elderly whose

immune system may not be strong.

for my children, he said. One
wont be enough if the jacket
needs to be washed.
Mr Phet also plans to buy
two or three blankets. He has

Asia News Network (ANN)

THE DAILY YOMIURI
THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN

THE STRAITS TIMES

The Asia News Network (ANN) is a network of leading daily English

language newspapers in Asia, supported by the Konrad Adenauer
Foundation of Germany through its regional representative bureau in
Singapore.
It was established in March, 1999, to provide avenues for cooperation
and optimise coverage of major news events in the region.
It also aims to promote journalism, share news stories, feature articles,
editorials and personality profiles. ANN is the worlds most active
newspaper alliance with a membership base of 18 newspapers in 16
countries.
The German News Agency of Deutsche Presse-Agentur, as one of the
leading international agencies and ANNs exclusive partner, distributes
news and features, background stories and commentaries from ANN
to subscribers worldwide.
They consist of Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), China Daily (China),
The Statesman (India), The Korea Herald (South Korea), The Star
(Malaysia), Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Nation (Thailand), The
Straits Times (Singapore), The Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines),
The Jakarta Post (Indonesia), Vietnam News (Vietnam), The Daily
Star (Bangladesh), Vientiane Times (Laos), The Kathmandu Post
(Nepal), The Island (Sri Lanka), Brunei Times (Brunei), The Nation
(Pakistan), and China Post (Taiwan). The combined circulation of these
newspapers is more than 14 million copies per day.

four blankets at home, one

for each person but thats not
enough in the current low
temperatures.
According to the Meteorology
and Hydrology Department, the
low temperatures are expected
to continue this month so
everyone is advised to keep
warm, especially children and
the elderly whose immune
system may not be strong.
Cold weather is currently
enveloping many places in the
northern hemisphere, including
other parts of this region, while a
massive blizzard claimed at least
16 lives in the United States.
The near-record snowstorm
clobbered a large swathe of
the eastern US on Friday
and Saturday, shutting down
New York and Washington
and affecting some 85 million
residents.
A cold snap gripped Hong
Kong on Sunday, with residents
shivering as temperatures
plunged to the lowest point
in nearly 60 years and frost
dusted the mountaintops of a
city accustomed to a subtropical
climate.
Hong Kong weather
officials issued a frost warning,
saying an intense cold surge
was in place coupled with
chilling monsoon winds.
China was also heading
for record low temperatures,
meteorologists warned
on Sunday, as authorities
renewed an orange alert for
severe weather. In Beijing,
temperatures were expected to
hit a 30-year low of minus 16
degrees Celsius, the National
Meteorological Centre said.
Temperatures in the southeastern provinces of Zhejiang,
Fujian and Guangdong may

More people are buying warm clothing as the temperature drops.

drop below the lowest levels

ever recorded, it said.
But here in Vientiane a
smiling Ms Tik said it was
a good time to sell a lot of
clothing because many people
were looking to buy jackets and
sweaters to keep themselves
warm. The garments are made
in China, Laos, Thailand and
Vietnam. Thick socks and gloves
are also very popular at the
moment.
Since the temperature
plummeted, Ms Tik has been
selling at least 10 jackets and
sweaters a day for both children
and adults with prices starting
from 30,000 kip, depending on
size and quality.
She says she doesnt
have to spend time or money
advertising her goods because
customers are quick to seek

her out.
Ms Tik says she likes to sell
seasonal clothing because it can
be very profitable. She hopes the
cold weather will stay around
for a while, but she has to put in
a lot of effort to sell as much as
possible because winter could
be over very quickly and then
customers wont be interested
in buying this kind of clothing.
Wearing thick clothing in
winter is one of many ways for
people to keep warm and reduce
respiratory illnesses. If children
go to school and their feet are
cold, they are advised to wear
tights and a pair of socks.
People are also advised
to eat nutritious food and do
regular exercise to stay healthy,
according to a doctor at the
Hygiene and Health Promotion
Department.

20

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Feature

Partys mass organisation policy bolsters national unity

Times Reporters

hroughout its long

journey, Laos has
learnt that whenever
the country enjoys
cohesive solidarity the nation
is strong and prosperous. But
when solidarity breaks down,
the country becomes weak,
opening the door to foreign
invasion and oppression.
Laos has experienced
traumatic periods of foreign
domination when solidarity
among citizens and leaders
weakened, especially when the
Lao Lane Xang Kingdom was
split into three kingdoms.
In ancient times, the Lao
people led by Chao Fapadchai
and Ong Keo Ong Kommadam
among others struggled to fight
against foreign feudalism due to
a lack of guidance in restoring
cohesive solidarity among
multiethnic people across the
country, with different groups
fighting individually.
When the Lao Peoples
Revolutionary Party was
founded six decades ago, it
recognised that it was essential
to create cohesive solidarity
among people of all ethnic
groups to amass a collective
force to fight for national
independence and liberation.
The Lao Front for National
Construction played a leading
role in uniting the people
in national solidarity in the
revolutionary task. As a result,
the Lao Peoples Democratic
Republic was proclaimed on
December 2, 1975 - a great
victory for the prolonged Lao

revolutionary task.
Further strengthening the
cohesive solidarity of the entire
multiethnic people continues
to be the top priority of the
Party as it leads the country
in national development and
construction.
The 9th Party Congress
in 2011 stated that the Party
had always reaffirmed that
enhancing the solidarity of all
Lao ethnic groups, social strata,
genders and religions, and
establishing a unified, powerful
force of the entire Lao people
centred around the Party was
decisive in enhancing the
victory of the revolution as well
as the stability of the political
regime and the sustainable
development of Laos.
Therefore, our Party
must enhance its united Front
affairs and vigorously enhance
the role of the Lao Front for
National Construction and
mass organisations, Party
Secretary General of the 8th and
9th Party Central Committees
Mr Choummaly Sayasone told
the 9th Congress.
The Party must consider
this work as one of its future
and long term strategic tasks.
Party committees at all
levels have to enhance their
leadership and supervision
of the Lao Front for National
Construction and other mass
organisations, such as the
Lao Peoples Revolutionary
Youth Union, the Lao Womens
Union, Lao Federation of Trade
Unions and Lao Veterans
Federation, aiming to improve
their work plans, methods,

Mass organisations have encouraged people from all walks of life to participate in tree planting. (File photo)

content and style of operation

to suit each target.
Most importantly, Mr
Choummaly added, the Party
has to create conditions for the
members of these organisations
to engage in political life and
receive information on policies
and the action plans of the
Party and State. The Party then
has to advocate and lead the
members of these organisations
to fruitfully implement all

Lao Red Cross Youth Competition!

Win a term of free English lessons by playing the Lao Red Cross Youth
Competition. From all correct entries, one winner will be drawn month. This months winner will
receive a T-shirt promoting HIV/AIDS awareness. From all monthly winners, one lucky winner
will receive one full term of English lessons donated for free by Vientiane College.
This month we have another word game for you. Just unscramble the following 5 words
and place them in the boxes provide. For the right answers we will give you in the next month .
C E

C E
O S

MRONECEY
CHSAO

XTECEP
CYNLEI

E S

ONPOESSISS

Cut out this entry form and send it to HIV/AIDS Project, Lao Red Cross, PO Box 650 or take it to
the Lao Red Cross office behind Vat Xiengnhune. Closing date for the competition on Friday, 29
January 2016 at 9.00am.
Name:

______________ID Card No:

_______Address & Phone Number: ____________

Last months answer: Accommodate, Distract, Excellent, Loyalty and Miserly.

Congratulation to Miss. Viengdavanh BANHPHAHASA, ID Card No: 01-0298589.
She is a winner of free term at Vientiane College.

Please contact to Ms. Phoutthalom for further more information at Tel: 241229.

Children remove garbage from a river, which is one of the activites encouraged by mass organisations
to protect the environment.

works laid down by the Party

and State.
In adhering to the policy
of solidarity of all Lao people,
the Party has continued to look
upon Lao compatriots living
overseas as members of the
national family. Therefore the
Party welcomes all patriots
who still love their birthplace
and want to come back to
Laos to join hands with the
Lao people to contribute their
intellectual and physical efforts
and funds to take part in the
development of the country.
The Party will continue
to promote all professional
organisations and associations
that have been legally
established and performed
their duties in accordance
with set roles and goals. This
will create opportunities for
these organisations to mobilise
and harness the energy of
all members towards socio-

economic development,
respond to members benefits
and help society, particularly
poor and disadvantaged people.
In addition, the Party
reaffirms its respect for the right
to freedom of religious belief,
as well as social movements, as
enunciated in the constitution
and laws, aiming to build a
harmonious and happy society.
Recognising the important
role that mass organisations
play, the 9th Party Congress
agreed to increase the work
of the United Front within
the Party; enhance the role
of the Lao Front for National
Construction, Lao Peoples
Revolutionary Youth Union,
Lao Womens Union, Lao
Federation of Trade Unions,
and Lao National Veterans
Federation in order to build
concord among ethnic groups
and social strata regardless of
gender or religion and build

a force of great unity of the

Lao people, including Lao
compatriots living overseas.
It would also promote social
professional organisations and
associations that have been
authorised and function legally
so they can contribute as a
predominant force for national
development.
President of the Lao Front
for National Construction Prof.
Dr Phanduangchit Vongsa said
that today multiethnic groups
in Laos coexist in peace with
cohesive solidarity, thanks
to the wise leadership of the
Party.
Multiethnic groups are
integrated socially, culturally
and economically. But they
are not discriminated against
politically, he said when
addressing a special meeting
held in November to celebrate
the 40th anniversary of the
founding of the Lao PDR.

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

21

Opinion

Streetwise

Whats your impression of the new

leadership elected at the Party Congress?
The 10th Party Congress, which convened last week, elected a new Party leadership and Vientiane Times asked
congress participants and members of the public for their thoughts on the best way forward for Laos.
leadership skills, knowledge
and integrity over the years.
r Monxay
They are well qualified to
Laomuasong, a Party guide the next five-year
Central Committee member national socio-economic
from Luang Prabang
development plan, 10-year
province: I believe that
strategy plan, and 20-year
Vision. The congress took
the election of new Party
Central Committee members
very seriously and chose the
most eligible candidates. I
would like to remind those
who have been elected to
guide our country in various
capacities, and that they
are the hope of the people.
Almost everyone in Laos
holds great hope for the
future and places their trust
in Party leaders. They owe it
electing a new leadership is to the Lao people to carry out
very important. I think Party their duties to the full extent
of their abilities and use all
members elected people
of their knowledge, skills and
who have shown good
Patithin Phetmeuangphuan

experience to improve the

situation in Laos.

r Seeva Luangaphai, a government

employee from Oudomxay
province: I believe the

congress elected a new

body of leaders that will
spur development in Laos.
I think our leaders always

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follow up problems and

know what needs to be
improved and changed
so that Laos will be more
developed in the future.
I think that this time we
will not only have a new
leadership but I think they
will be better able to plan
and devise a better working
system. Since the Party
assumed leadership of Laos,
the country has been at
peace and has developed
rapidly because our leaders
are hard working and care
for the people. However,
there are many problems
that the new Party Central
Committee will have to
tackle in order to move Laos
forward along the right path.
In my opinion, development
means improving living
standards, making people
self-reliant, and broadening
their knowledge.

r Khamloun
Lorkhamroi, a guest
from Luang Namtha
province: The Party Congress
is held once every five years
and is the most important
meeting in Laos as our
leaders gather to identify
problems and make plans for
the future development of the
country. The congress elects
a new body of leaders and I
am certain that they are well
qualified to move our country
forward. In my opinion, Laos
still has many problems so
I would like to call on our
leaders to do their best to
accelerate the development
process. From what I have
seen, since the Party has been
guiding the country, Laos has
developed fast. On the other

hand, there are some aspects

of the plans set at the last

congress that have not been

achieved, such as reducing
poverty in rural areas and
removing Laos from least
developed country status.

rigadier General
Chanthavone
Xayaphong, Party Central
Committee member from
Oudomxay province: I have
been very pound to attend
this congress. It has been
enjoyable and successful.

I would like every sector

of government to continue
to work for peace around
the country. In addition,
the authorities should do
more to develop rural areas
and improve livelihoods

in line with Party policy,

and as stated during the
Party Congress. Oudomxay
province is peaceful and
the economy is improving
year by year but there are
some aspects that we need
to improve such as better
communication systems,
roads, and having clean
water and health care
centres in rural areas.
These are important issues
that need to be urgently
addressed.

r Sengthavang
Vilailath, a company
employee in Vientiane:
I think the authorities
should pay more attention
to tourism because this
business can provide
many jobs. Its better
than building up areas of
industry such as mining and
hydropower, as these can
have damaging effects on
people, animals and natural
resources. And everything
changes when development
comes to a place although
of course it does mean
better housing and higher
incomes. I think tourism is
definitely the best way to
move forward, as it means
we get more visitors here.
We should publicise our
attractions through the
media so that everyone
knows about the natural
beauty of Laos, and use this
to attract people and teach
them about our country. If
the authorities were to do
this, the number of visitors
would increase year by
year and I think this would
do a lot for Laos in the
right way.

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22 Opinion

Tuesday January 26, 2016

10th Party Congress Resolution

Times Reporters

he 10th Congress of the Lao Peoples

Revolutionary Party took place
from January 18-22 in Vientiane
under the slogan Upholding
leadership capacity and leading styles of the
Party; enhancing mass solidarity of the entire
nation; adhering to the comprehensive and
principled renovation policy; and protecting
and developing the nation in line with the
sustainable directives towards socialism.
The congress was attended by 685 delegates
(one of whom was specially requested to attend),
representing the 252,879 Party members
nationwide.
The congress discussed and adopted
important issues concerning the Party and
nation in a constructive and responsible
atmosphere filled with cohesive solidarity, and
concluded with sound outcomes as follows:
I. The Congress discussed in depth and
unanimously adopted the Political Report of
the 9th Party Central Committee presented to
the 10th Party Congress.
The Congress agreed with the assessment
of the implementation of the resolution
adopted by the 9th Party Congress, particularly
the outstanding achievements made in
national defence and security tasks, socioeconomic development, improvements to and
consolidation of State administration systems,
the united front and mass affairs of the Party,
foreign affairs, international integration, and
Party and personnel building.
Delegates at the Congress contributed frank

and candid opinions on the shortcomings of

the Partys leadership, which had caused the
implementation of focal work in some areas
to fail to achieve set targets and called for
appropriate measures to intensively address the
shortcomings, aiming to bring positive changes
to further implement the Partys guidelines.

The Congress adopted

the conclusion of 7-point
lessons learnt from the
implementation of the
Resolution of the 9th Party
Congress and 30 years of the
renovation policy. In addition,
the Congress adopted 7
targets to pursue and realise
in the near future.
The Congress adopted the conclusion of
7-point lessons learnt from the implementation
of the Resolution of the 9th Party Congress and
30 years of the renovation policy. In addition,
the Congress adopted 7 targets to pursue and
realise in the near future.
The Congress entrusted the 10th Party
Central Committee to ensure that the resolution
be systematically understood by all core

Party members in all organisations, sectors,

localities and levels so they can implement it
appropriately in their works and yield greater
outcomes.
The Congress also entrusted the Party Central
Committee to translate the Partys focal directives
into the resolution of the Party Central Committee
so that Party committees at various levels can use it
as a clear reference for implementation process.
The Congress instructed State agencies
to translate the resolution into detailed
legislation, action plans and projects so that
the implementation process can take place in a
timely manner and gain great accomplishments.
II. The Congress heard a report on the
countrys vision until 2030, a strategy for 10year socio-economic development (2016-25)
and 8th Five-Year National Socio-Economic
Development Plan (2016-20). The slogan for
the countrys vision and strategy is Strive to
shed our country from least developed country
status by 2020 and move towards being an
upper middle income developing country in
line with green and sustainable development
when approaching 2030.
The Congress agreed with the vision,
strategy and 8th socio-economic development
plan, instructing the 10th Party Central
Committee to further advise the government
to translate it into action plans and nationallevel projects as well as determine scopes of
investment for those projects.
The Congress encourages the economic
sector and all of society to become involved
in implementing the above plans and projects.
To be continued...

Asean sends the right signals to

stop human trafficking menace
Simon Tay, Aaron Choo, Shangari Kiruppalini

Thailand (The Nation, ANN) -- Regional

leaders inaugurated the Asean Community
at the end of 2015 to bring their 10 countries
closer - not only for economic integration, but
also on security-political issues as well as social
and cultural affairs. One test for this dream of
Community is whether the lives of ordinary
citizens will improve, and one hard issue will
be the ongoing tragedy of trafficking in persons.
Last year, mass graves were discovered
along the border of Thailand and Malaysia,
containing the remains of over 200 people.
The cases are still under investigation, but
the victims are believed to be Rohingya from
Rakhine State in Myanmar who were kidnapped
or illegally trafficked before being abandoned
and killed.
Beyond the headlines about the Rohingya,
millions of victims are being trafficked across
Asean to work in different sectors - including
the sex industry, fishing and on plantations.
Accurate figures for the region are debatable
but, for Asia-Pacific, the International Labour
Organisation estimates that there are now more
than 11.7 million victims of forced labour.
A much stronger effort is needed to stem the
illegal trafficking in persons.
This month, countries will submit statements
about the steps they have taken to the US State
Department annual trafficking in persons
(TIP) report. This grades countries on a fourcategory list, according to the extent of the
problem and the efforts being taken. To date,
most Asean member states occupy the middle
ranks, signalling that they fall short of the USs
standards.
The Rohingya issue places a spotlight
on Myanmar, the source country, as well as
Malaysia and Thailand. Each has fared very
differently in the lens of American scrutiny,
and not always for good reason.
The TIP Report and Aseans dilemma
Myanmar has yet to be assessed and
graded by the US. There is justification for

this oversight given the country has been in

transition to full democracy. But after the
historic election result that brought the National
League of Democracy to power in November,
the government will now be expected to address
the issue more seriously at its root.
A discrepancy between the TIP grades
handed to Malaysia and Thailand last year
prompted concerns that extraneous factors
are affecting Washingtons judgement. The
US promoted Malaysia from Tier 3 despite
that country being a location for the Rohingya
tragedy.
True, Malaysian authorities have upped
their efforts to combat traffickers. In 2014, they
launched 186 investigations into trafficking
cases, more than double the number the year
before. Some 54 cases were prosecuted in court.
However, the Thais showed as much or even
more effort.
Suspicions were raised that Washington
was kinder to Malaysia because it joined the
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade
agreement that President Obama has been
pushing as a centrepiece of engagement with
the region. If the TIP Report had left Malaysia
in Tier 3, the countrys poor rating on human
trafficking would automatically have prevented
the Obama administration from securing fasttrack approval of the TPP through Congress.
Political expedience and the TPPs
importance may therefore have been the critical
factors, rather than Malaysias efforts to combat
trafficking. Political factors may have also
played a role in the case of Thailand, but in the
opposite direction.
The country was kept in Tier 3 despite
appearing to have taken even more action
against traffickers than Malaysia. Authorities
in Bangkok investigated some 280 trafficking
cases and prosecuted 155 alleged traffickers.
Efforts have continued and indeed strengthened
in the past months with the arrest and indictment
of more suspects - including a senior Army
general, alleged to be a lynchpin in trafficking.
Systemic changes have been made. The

Prayut Chan-o-cha government has created

a high-level inter-ministry taskforce and
increased the budget to tackle the issue. Laws
have been streamlined to allow for cases to
be prosecuted more quickly and to increase
punishments against those found guilty. Efforts
in the fishing industry, heavily implicated for
forced labour, have put in place monitoring
systems on board vessels and thorough checks
on vessels when they go in and out of port.
Thai efforts seem at the very least on a par
with Malaysias, leading critics to speculate
that the US Trafficking in Persons Report
was shaped by political considerations as
well as objective assessments. After all, ThaiUS relations have been under strain since
the military coup that brought the current
administration to power in Bangkok.
Tackling trafficking in the region is not an
easy task. There are vested interests within the
region that drive the trade in persons. Concern
and scrutiny from the international community
is needed to urge on reform.
However, Asean member states should not
simply act in order to secure a stamp of approval
from Washington. Nor should the United
States or others in the international community
leverage the issue for extraneous political
reasons. Even-handedness and cooperation,
rather than biased views, will be the key to
unlocking this important and complex problem.
Asean countries should take the initiative
to solve the issue for their own people, as
a flagship in the human dimension of their
Community-building project. Only then can
the US and other major powers truly support
Asean on the issue and work collectively to
address the responsibilities of source, transit
and destination countries.
--Simon Tay is the chairman of the thinktank Singapore Institute of International
Affairs (SIIA), and associate professor at the
National University of Singapore Faculty of
Law. Aaron Choo and Shangari Kiruppalini,
are respectively, assistant director and policy
research analyst at the SIIA.

Vientiane Times

What
What the
the Lao
Lao
papers
say
papers say

Noisy neighbours
creating problems
Translated by Patithin Phetmeuangphuan

Having noisy neighbours is a common

problem in Laos and every day people have
to put up with loud music when others in
the neighbourhood have a party or drinking
session, especially at night when people
want to sleep or rest.
Some people often get together for
drinks and when they get drunk they turn
up the music louder and sing karaoke songs
without caring what their neighbours think
and whether they might be disturbing them.
The authorities in these places should
do something about it because many people
cannot stand such loud music, especially
if they are unwell. And some people need
some quiet time to work at home.
This problem not only affects Lao
people. Foreigners staying in Laos often
say they suffer from loud music being
played at all hours.
Many villages have been awarded
certificates that declare them to be models
of culture, but playing loud music is not
part of Lao culture and we should keep our
neighbourhoods more peaceful, especially
on holy days.
--Socio-Economic Daily, January 25

Time to resolve
the traffic issue
Many people often complain that they
arrive late at work, and other places,
because of traffic congestion. Life gets
harder and harder for road users and
motorists are getting more frustrated,
especially in Vientiane.
Traffic jams are a frequent topic of
conversation but nothing ever improves.
Sometime things get really difficult as
there are so many reasons for traffic jams.
Many roads are very narrow, drivers break
the rules, people park on the roadside,
and trucks sell fruit by the road especially
near markets and junctions, making the
road extra narrow. This causes traffic
snarls, general chaos, and accidents, and
people should be prevented from blocking
thoroughfares of all kinds.
--Vientiane Mai Daily, January 22

Young bikers still

creating problems
Groups of teenage motorbike riders are
still plaguing central Vientiane with their
inconsiderate antics. Lots of people have
said the authorities should create a special
racing track where they can let off steam
and have some fun without bothering other
road users.
Street racers used to gather on the roads
around midnight, and disturbed everyone
in the vicinity with the noise they made.
But now theyre taking to the streets
at about 4-5pm when school ends. Some
bikers drive down the road doing wheelies
while their passengers stand and put their
arms out like theyre flying and without
any concern for their safety.
This consistent violation of the rules
of the road and the total disrespect they
display is dangerous both for themselves
and other motorists. It is essential that the
authorities clamp down on this behaviour,
along with parents and teachers, who
should have the most influence over their
children and pupils.
--Lao Pattana, January 25

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

23

Arts & Leisure

Lao Pride Records celebrates 9th anniversary

Sisouphan Amphonephong

ao Pride Records
celebrated the 9th
anniversary of its
establishment last
week, recognising the recording
artists it has under contract as
well as the achievements of the
music label in the years since it
was founded.
The celebration took
place at Vientiane Centre
and was attended by various
Lao celebrities from different
companies including Tou
Hero, Maz, Extreme, Alee
Shawty, GB2, Neuang Super
One and Japanese DJ Yoshi,
who attended to share in the
companys success.
The celebration of course
featured performances by a
number of artists and guests
as well as the Cosplay cartoon
of super heroes and DJ Yoshis
house music style.
Managing Director
of Lao Pride Records Mr
Anousa Phothisan said at the
celebration that in the years
ahead, Lao Pride Records
will focus on discovering new
artists and talents to provide
music fans with different styles
and genres of music to choose
from.
He said a few years ago, the
company was focused mostly
on entertainment events and
Lao celebrities but recently it
has been seeking to expand its
area of interest.
This year the company
aims to train more artists to
respond to the demands of
the Lao entertainment scene,
while it will continue with new

Anousa and friends pose for a group photo at the celebration.

ventures such as the Vangvieng

Music Festival, which was
launched late last year for the
first time.
Mr Anousa said the
company has more and more
talented artists on its books
these days and there is less
need to train its singers and
performers anymore.
Among its success stories
have been Alee from the girl
group Shawty who received the
best new popular artist back in
2012. Meanwhile Black Eyes
received Best Artist in 2013 and
Boy Band The Bullet, Touly
Bidahak and Maz also received
awards whilst working for the
company.
C u r r e n t l y, L a o P r i d e
Records focuses mostly on
rock and hip hop as well as a
fusion of the two. Rock music
remains especially popular at
beer gardens and entertainment
events.
Its audition round for the

selection of new singers and

bands will take place in March,
offering a great opportunity for
young musicians and artists to
showcase their special skills
and talents.
In February, the company
will also join to celebrate Japan
Cool Kawaii 2016 in Vientiane.
Currently, there are still
not that many performing
artists in Laos if compared
to neighbouring countries.
Therefore it is necessary to
nurture more talent to perform
at entertainment events, TV
shows and other fields of Lao
entertainment as well as to
promote Lao celebrities in their
various endeavours.
This year, the companys
annual dance events shall
include Street Jam, Music
Festival, and Fire Your Work.
Mr Anousa said he wanted
to bring new trends and
experiences to Lao people and
to this end is now partnering

Jugni - A subtly sensitive film

Jugni.

MUMBAI (The Statesman,

ANN) --Jugni, or the female
firefly, has symbolic meanings
in many ancient texts. But most
of all, it signifies the free-flying
spirit that illuminates from
within.
On a scientific note, the
glow of the fireflies is used
as defence mechanism or a
mating device. And according
to Punjabi folk, it is an age-old
narrative device that stands
for an innocent observer to
make incisive and touching
observations of life.
Well, Shefali Bhushan in
her maiden directorial venture
has blended all science, myth
and the narrative device to
deliver a subtly sensitive film.
Used as a metaphor, Jugni

is Vibhavaris story.
Vibhavari (Sugandha Garg)
also known as Vibs is a music
director in Mumbai. She is
struggling to get a foothold
in the film industry. After
numerous rejections, she
travels to Hasanpur village in
Punjab to unearth a fine folk
singer Bibi Saroop (Sadhana
Singh), whose voice holds the
promise that she is looking for.
While in the village, Vibs
gets attracted to the opportunist
Mastana (Siddhant Behl), Bibi
Saroops son and an equally
proficient singer.
How their lives take a twist,
forms the crux of the tale.
The storyline is superficial.
The plot, strewn with
astonishing poetry and song

sequences, is formulaic and

relatable. The script is flowing
and sweet, but unimaginative.
It offers no dramatic
moments and the surprises are
more of duds. But what keeps you
hooked are the chirpy dialogues
and effervescent performances
by the lead cast.
The characters are marginally
quirky and their performances
are equally competitive and
natural. And Divakar Manis
cinematography takes you to the
heart of the action.
The film belongs to Sugandha
Garg and Siddhant Behl. They
portray Vibhavari and Mastana
in all earnestness. They both
are charming and light up the
screen with their vibrant and
contrasting personalities.
While Siddhant is effortless
as the rustic village entertainer,
Sugandha comes across as an
artificial made up city-bred doll
with a well coiffured mane.
They are aptly supported
by; Sadhana Singh as Bibi
Saroop, Samir Sharma as
Sid, Vibs live-in partner and
Anirutha Jha as Mastanas
girlfriend Preeto. Theirs is
a one- dimensional role that
navigates the story forward.
Clinton Cerejos music is
sparkling with a blend of rustic
folk songs that are tuned and
off-beat.
Overall, Shefalis direction
is noteworthy and the film is
worth a watch.

Anousa poses with dancers and staff of the company.

with a Chinese investor to

bring the Ice Kingdom to open
in Laos for the first time.
Alee, on the celebration
day, was selected by the
Chinese investor to become
a presenter for the future Ice
Kingdom to open in Laos.
Anousa added that the
standard for selection of the
companys new artists has been
not yet discussed. For new
artists who love their field, that
the company can train them
to become brighter and more
well-rounded performers.
Each year the company
plans to promote at least three
bands including rock bands, hiphop groups and dance artists to
supply the needs and desires of
the nations music fans.

DJ Yoshi breaks into some house music.

Kung Fu Panda 3 sets box office

record in nationwide preview
A scene
from the
latest film
of the Kung
Fu Panda
franchise,
which will
premiere
globally on
Jan 29.

CHINA (China Daily, ANN) -Kung Fu Panda 3 set a new high

in box office records in China,
pocketing 41.26 million yuan
(US$6.27 million) from more
than 1.17 million moviegoers in
just three hours during a sneak
preview session held nationwide
on Saturday afternoon.
The roughly 90-minute
animated sequel, by
DreamWorks Animation and
Oriental DreamWorks, hints at
a potential blockbuster debut,
especially in China, when it
opens on the coming weekend
on Jan 29, one weekend before
the Chinese New Year weekend.
The third installment of the
Kung Fu Panda franchise, a
follow-up to Kung Fu Panda
2 in 2011, set a new record for
previews in China as it topped
the box office on Jan 23 during a
preview nationwide from 14:0017:00 pm. Note that China has
been struck with pretty harsh

weather over the weekend, so

it is highly possible that the
figure may have been higher,
had the temperature been better
for viewers to visit the theaters.
The Kung Fu Panda franchise
has performed very well in China
and the US. According to Forbes,
Kung Fu Panda, which opened
in 2008, earned US$217 million
in America, US$603 million
worldwide and US$12 million
in China. The sequel, Kung
Fu Panda 2 in 2011, dipped a
little bit with US$165 million
in US, but made up for it from
its worldwide sales of US$665
million and a whopping US$92
million from China. As the
protagonist panda Po goes on
a quest to find his roots and his
biological father, along with the
record-setting ticket sales during
the preview, and the timing of the
coming Chinese New Year break,
it is reasonable to expect another
big cash-in from Kung Fu Panda

3 from the Chinese market.

In a special move to
tailor the film for the Chinese
market, DreamWorks crafted
two versions of the films, one
normal version, dubbed by
local movie stars and artists,
and another tailored version,
where it is animated differently
to more accurately adhere to the
mouth movements and body
language of Chinese. According
to DreamWorks, the customised
Mandarin version is not simply
a dubbed version, but a redesign
and rewrite of the script. Elements
such as dialects and more localized
puns were added specifically for
Chinese audiences.
More than 200 Oriental
DreamWorks employees have
worked on the film in Shanghai,
providing feedback on the
authenticity of Chinese elements
in the film and fine-tuning the
details of the second version of
the Mandarin-language script.

24

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Classified
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Announcement

Vientiane Times

Attention Vientiane Times subscribers

Persons interested in being partners

in educational business development
investment with insured incomes for
your investment and already expanded
business building and facilities, kindly
contact number 020-91833335 or e-mail:
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/:
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We at Vientiane Times would like to inform our subscribers

that we now offer newspaper boxes for use in homes and
offices. The boxes, each of which is equipped with a lock
and key, help protect your paper from inclement weather.
Those interested in obtaining a box should contact the
Vientiane Times office or call us at:
Tel: 336042; Fax: 336041

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

VPS

APARTMENT FOR RENT

Car rental service

In the centre of Vientiane

Fully furnished 1 bedroom, Living
room, Kitchen, Housekeeping,
Laundry, Cable TV and Wi-Fi

We have many types of cars for rent new

model and old, sedan & 4 wheel such as:
MG.TOYOTA. NISSAN. KIA. HYUNDAI,

SMALL AND MIDDLE SEDAN FOR CITY

Call: 020 55505840, 020 77495533

Email: lao.heritage@gmail.com

AGL assurances Allianz Group

Short term 1-7days & long 1-12 months
Self drive or with driver
Provide vehicle for Project & Private
Affordable price and best service
Office B. Thonkang, R. sokpalaung 15/279
For English call Mr. Chanh anytime
Tel: 020 55599900. 55593013,
office: 030 9800630
Email: vpscarrental@yahoo.com
www.vpscarrental.com

House for Rent

Villa for rent: 3 Bedroom,3bathroom, living
room and nice garden
Thadeau Road, Choumphet Village,
Sisattanak District.
Contract: 020 7782 1551 or 020 5959 9611
E-mail: tum_y.x@hotmail.com

SERVICED APARTMENTS
Spacious & tastefully decorated
Fully furnished 1 & 2 bedroom
Air-conditioning, Cable TV, Swimming pool,
Garden, Housekeeping, Laundry
MP: 020 55505840, 020 55023782
Email: lao.heritage@gmail.com

Laoland Company is a long established and leading real estate

service agency based in Vientiane. With our experience in
serving customers of all nationalities, and our knowledge of the
local property market, we are confident that we will be able to
understand and meet your requirements. Property inspection
visits provided.
We speak English, French, Japanese and Chinese.
For further details, please feel free to contact us
At 020 5551 0155, 2366 6333, 2826 4781, 021 453 919
For Advertisement, Please call Ms Tou 021 453 919, 020 5654
5155
Email: Laoland.realestate@gmail.com
oad.laoland@gmail.com,
khone.laoland@gmail.com
Website: www.laoland.com

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Ban Sibounheuang,
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Mob: +856-20-55512828
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Email: abapart@gmail.com
www.abapartment.com

RentsBuy Co., Ltd is a leading professional real estate

company offering;house, land, apartment, office,
warehouse, business for rent /for sale and
property valuation throughout Lao PDR.
Dongpainar Rd., Ban Phontan, Saysetta
District,Sisattanak, Vientiane
Office mobile: 021 262319/20, 020 23333347,
77600059
www.RentsBuy.com email: rentsbuy@gmail.com

Vientiane Times on CD-ROM

Issues of Vientiane Times from 1994 to January 2016 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, 336048, 216364.
Fax: (856-21) 336041. Email: editor@vientianetimes.la

HOTEL LAO
*Value *Comfort *Service
In the heart of Vientiane
Ideal for business or tourist
43/7 Hengboun Road,Vientiane
Tel: (856 21) 219280-1, Fax: (856 21) 219282
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Classified 25

26

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Whats On
Lao Food Festival
The Lao Womens Union and Lao
Businesswomens Association are
holding the 11th Lao Food Festival
in Vientiane. Everyone is invited to
come along and sample traditional Lao
cuisine.
Where: Chao Anouvong Park.
When: January 28-30. Opening
ceremony at 9am.

Vat Phou Champassak Festival

Champassak province will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Vat Phou

and its associated ancient settlements being listed as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
When: February 20, 21, 22
Where: Vat Phou, Champassak province

Lao-Thai concert
A concert this week as part of
the Lao Federation of Trade
Unions Fair will feature Thai
singer Maithai and Lao singer
Poukky Ngernlan.
Where: Lao-ITECC.
When: January 28, 7pm, free
entrance.

First International Half

Marathon in Vientiane
Social enterprise Events for Good (EFG) will host the first
international half marathon in Laos to mark International Womens
Day. EFG invites participants to join either the 21km, 10km, or 5km
runs. The event will start and finish at the That Luang stupa. Every
participant who crosses the finish line within the allotted time will
receive a medal and certificate. Trophies and cash prizes will be
provided to the top 5 male and top 5 female runners of the half
marathon and quarter marathon. A Health and Fitness Expo will also
be held before and during the event. Check Facebook event page for
further details.
When: Sunday, March 6, 2016; 5am 8am.
Health and Fitness Expo Time: Friday, March 4, 10am7pm and
Saturday, March 5; 10am7pm.
Media event organisers should contact Vanpheng Southichak or
Thouni Seneyakone about sponsorship opportunities. Ask about
customised sponsorship packages, including on-site display
opportunities, guidebook advertisements, and in-kind donations.
Vanpheng Southichak Managing Director +856 (0) 20 5588 8688
vanpheng@gmail.com
Thouni Seneyakone Operations Manager +856 (0) 20 - 9144 8858
seneyakone@gmail.com

Lao Fashion Week

Come along to Lao

Fashion Week to learn
about developments
in the industry and
meet the new brand
ambassadors.
When: January 29
Where: Vientiane
Centre
For more information
contact: 020-55526629

Actors and actresses wanted

Kheo Heng (KH) company is inviting good-looking young people to
apply for two male and two female lead roles in the romantic comedy
film Hong Ham Tao. Female applicants should be 18-26 years old
and males should be aged 20-28
When: Applications until February 28
Where: Contact through Facebook at Inbox only, www.facebook.com/
phoumsana.sirivongsa
or Search in facebook: Jear Pacific

Sikhottabong
Stupa Festival
Khammuan residents
will celebrate the annual
Sikhottabong Stupa Festival in
honour of the revered religious
structure, when locally-made
products will be on sale.
When: February 20-22
Where: Khammuan province

Vientiane Trail 2016

Come along and enjoy the Vientiane
Trail 2016, when the capitals old
quarter will be transformed into a
pedestrian zone with night time
illuminations, and art and handicraft
events.
Where: Chao Anou Street to
Francois Ngin Street.
When: February 26-28, open from
5-9pm each night.

Meditation course

Global citizenship programme

Japanese
organisation GiFT,
in collaboration with
Green Discovery
and FM 90.0 Mhz,
is inviting university
students aged 1824 to apply for the
Diversity Voyage in
Laos programme,
a 6 day event with
Japanese students.
Expenses will be
paid by the programme.
When: From February 20-25. Applications accepted until January 29
Where: Contact Bounheng (programme coordinator) on 020 55400099.
Or visit the following link:
http://www.laoyouth-radio.com/2016/01/diversity-voyage-2016.html

Free treatment
Interplast Australia and
New Zealand plastic
and reconstructive
surgical team will visit
Mahosot Hospital for
treatment of cleft lip
and palate burns.
When: Consultation
clinic February 8
Surgeries performed
February 9-18
Where: Mahosot
Hospital, Vientiane
Call for information 020 5560 9415 Dr Vanpheng Norasingh

Arts Festival
Vientiane Performing Arts Festival
When: January 29-31, 5pm-9pm
Where: National Culture Hall
Entry free.
For more information see
facebook.com/Khao Niew Lao

Charity Football Match

There will be a
Charity Football
Match between
the Lao Premier
Leagues
Allstars and Thai
champions Buriram
United
When: January 31,
6:30pm
Where: National
Stadium, Km 16. The match will be televised on TV Lao channel and
3SD Thai channel.

The Vientiane Times welcomes notices from

members of the public for announcement on
this page. Any events or functions open to
the general public are suitable for publishing.
Contact: editor@vientianetimes.la

Sincere persons are invited to

attend a morality and meditation
training course.
When: January 25-31, with an
almsgiving ceremony on the last
day.
Where: Vat Pa Siritray Yalam,
Layao-tay village, Samakhixay
district, Attapeu province
For more information call: 030 4826 131, 020 5897 7769

Elephant Festival
This years Elephant
Festival will feature 67
elephants taking part
in activities including
a beauty contest,
bathing and baci
ceremony. There will
also be a large and
vibrant street fair.
When: February
19-21
Where: Xayaboury
district, Xayaboury
province

Trade Union
Trade Fair
There will be a special
trade fair to mark the 60th
anniversary of the Lao
Federation of Trade Union.
When: January 23
February 3
Where: Lao-ITECC

Painting exhibition
Paintings by
Lao artist Ebbe
Soukhaseum
Chanthapanya, who
lives in London,
will be exhibited in
Vientiane.
When: Three
weeks, starting
from January 26.
Opening ceremony at 6:30pm.
Where: Maison de la Culture de Ban Naxay, in Xaysettha district.

Toyota Painting Contest

The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest 2016 is open to children, with the
theme Toyota in My Dream
The painting contest is divided into three age groups: Under 8; Ages
8-11; and Ages 12-15.
When: Submit your painting anytime from December 16 February
15, 2016
Where: For details, contact Toyota company offices nationwide
on: 021 453801-2, 041 260882-4, 071 214111, 031 251400 or any
Education and Sports Department.

Warm for Winter appeal

The Lao Red Cross asks everyone to help people living in northern
Laos keep warm this winter. Please donate clean blankets, warm
clothing, towels, shoes, gloves and socks to our Warm for Winter
Appeal 2015.
Where: Lao Red Cross
When: Normal working hours
For more information: 021 253 014, Facebook/LaoRedCrossSociety
Thank you so much for your generosity!

Vientiane Times

Tuesday January 26, 2016

World champion Ogier wins

season-opening Monte Carlo rally
World champion
Sebastien Ogier
of France (left)
and his co driver
Julien Ingrassia
of France (right)
receive their
trophy from
Prince Albert II of
Monaco, second
left, after winning
the 84th Rally of
Monte Carlo on
Sunday.
--Photo AP

GAP, France (AP) -- Three-time

world champion Sebastien Ogier
won the season-opening Monte
Carlo rally in style on Sunday,
taking two of the three stages to
clinch a third straight win at his
favourite race.
The Frenchman led overnight
from Andreas Mikkelsen of
Norway, and finished nearly two
minutes ahead of his Volkswagen
teammate for his 33rd career
victory.
This rally is the most
important of the season for me,
Ogier said. So emotional to
be able to do it here in Monte
Carlo.
Just like on Saturday, Ogier
won the days opening stage
beating Hyundai drivers Dani
Sordo of Spain and Belgian
Thierry Neuville, who finished
the race in third place overall.

Mikkelsen won the next

stage, with Sordo again second,
but clawed back only 13.6
seconds on Ogier, who was down
in seventh spot.
Ogier won the final power
stage ahead of Sordo and
Mikkelsen, collecting three
bonus points to go with his win.
The power stage was a testing
12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from
Col de lOrme to St. Laurent in
the French Alps.
It started with a climb up
Col de LOrme a mountain
pass that features on the Tour de
France cycling race on old
and bumpy tarmac, followed by
a fast downhill finish featuring
several hairpin bends to test
drivers nerves.
Ogier completed it in a little
over eight minutes to cap a fine
race. Im very happy. I have to

thank my team and especially

my gravel crew; theyve done a
great job, Ogier said. The car
was perfect, Im so happy to take
this win for Volkswagen.
Meanwhile, Jari-Matti
Latvala, who abandoned
overnight because of front
suspension damage to his
Volkswagen, was given a
suspended one-race ban and
fined 5,000 euros (US$5,400)
after hitting a spectator on
Saturday.
The spectator got straight
back up after being clipped by
the front of Latvalas car, but the
Finnish driver was punished by
race stewards who viewed
on-board images of the incident
for not stopping to check as
he carried on driving.
The suspended ban is in force
for the rest of the season.

Madrid drops 1st pts under

Zidane, Atletico leaves Barca top

Real Madrids Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Betis Molinero (right) vie
for the ball during the La Liga soccer match at the Benito Villamarin
stadium, in Seville, Spain on Sunday.
--Photo AP

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- Real Madrid dropped its first points

under coach Zinedine Zidane in a 1-1 draw at Real Betis on Sunday,
while Atletico Madrid failed to regain the Spanish league lead from
Barcelona after finishing goalless against 10-man Sevilla.
Madrid could only muster a second-half goal by Karim Benzema
to cancel out Alvaro Cejudos stunner. Despite seeing his team fall
four points adrift of the pace-setting pair, Zidane tried to be upbeat
about Madrids performance and prospects.
We dropped two points, that is the negative part, but there were
positive things too. And we have to think we can overcome, this
because the league is very long, Zidane said. We deserved much
more from the game we played. We were unlucky.

Barcelona emerged as the

big beneficiary of the weekend
after Atleticos stumble left it
ahead on goal difference thanks
to Saturdays 2-1 win at Malaga.
The title-holders will also have
a game in hand after they host
Atletico next weekend in a highly
anticipated meeting between the
last two league champions.
Zidane had overseen two
lopsided wins in the comfort
of Madrids Santiago Bernabeu
stadium since taking over from
the much-maligned Rafa Benitez.
But Madrids slip in Seville
showed that it will take more than
a change of coach to remedy its
ills on the road, where it has now
won just four of its 10 league
games this season.
We know (the title) is going
to be tough, Madrid defender
Pepe said.
Zidane appeared to have
been given an easy first outing.
Betis, which returned to
the topflight this season, was
winless in 10 matches across
all competitions and lost 5-0 to
Madrid the last time they visited
two seasons ago.
But a brilliant goal from
Cejudo, some fine goalkeeping
from former Madrid goalie
Antonio Adan, and Madrids
own lack of a finishing touch
added up to another setback for
the powerhouse.
Many things have to go
right for you to take a point from
Madrid. You have to make the
most of your scoring chances
and hope that they dont have a
good day, said Betis manager
Juan Merino. This gives me a
boost of confidence.

Sports 27

Azarenka, in form, and into

Australian Open quarterfinals
MELBOURNE, Australia
(AP) -- Victoria Azarenka
couldnt get off court quickly
enough to check the score after
reaching the Australian Open
quarterfinals.
To her elation, it was a
Broncos win.
The two-time Australian
Open champion had just beaten
Barbaro Strycova 6-2, 6-4 in
the fourth round on Monday
continuing a three-year
sequence of wins against the
Czech player that started in
the second round in 2014 and
included the third round last
year when she wanted to
know the result of the AFC
title game.
Can somebody please tell
me, did Broncos win? she
said, taking over her on-court
TV interview. When she heard
the Denver Broncos had beaten
the New England Patriots 2018, she shouted Yesss!!
stepping back and raising both
arms, Im so happy now.
I was so nervous the
whole morning, I didnt watch.
I didnt want to know the
result, she said. As you can
see Im a crazy sports fanatic,
so I understand you guys when
you get all nervous and stuff,
because I felt that.
Peyton Mannings Broncos
will face Cam Newtons
Carolina Panthers in the 50th
Super Bowl. Azarenka has
already shown some allegiance
to Newton and the Panthers,

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits a forehand return to Barbora

Strycova of the Czech Republic during their fourth round match at
the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia
on Monday.
--Photo AP

doing her version of the dab

in her victory celebrations.
Told the Panthers were well
ahead of the Cardinals in the
NFC decider, Azarenka said
Well then, its going to be
my dream final, I cant wait to
see that.
Azarenka is coming off
two injury-interrupted seasons,
but is returning to the kind of
form that took her to the No.
1-ranked and back-to-back
Australian Open titles in 2012
and 13.
She won the Brisbane
International leading into the
first major of the season, and
dropped only five games in her
first three rounds at Melbourne

Park. Strycova, who beat thirdranked Garbine Muguruza in

the third round, took six games
off Azarenka.
S h e s s u ch a to u g h
opponent. Im just so happy I
went through, she said. I played
smart, I played aggressive, I took
my opportunities and I really
kept my composure.
Next up she faces No. 7
Angelique Kerber, who beat
fellow German Annika Beck
6-4, 6-0 in the preceding match
on Rod Laver Arena.
Kerber, who saved a match
point in her first-round win
over Misaki Doi, is into the
quarterfinals for the first time
in Australia.

Fowler wins in Abu Dhabi,

another near miss for McIlroy

Rickie Fowler of the Unites States watches the ball after the tee off at the third hole during the final round
of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Sunday.
--Photo AP

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP)

-- Rickie Fowler puffed his cheeks and shook
his head. What looked like being a procession
to the Abu Dhabi Championship title ended up
being a squeeze for the American on Sunday.
It needed two moments of inspiration in the
final round to seal a one-shot victory and
spark more talk about Fowlers place in golfs
current elite.
Dressed in his trademark Sunday orange,
Fowler rebounded from a double-bogey at No.
7, which helped trim his lead over a congested
pack of challengers from four strokes to one,
by chipping in from 30 yards for eagle from a
bunker at No. 8.
Then, at No. 17, Fowler holed a chip from
just off the green for a birdie that shook off
playing partner Thomas Pieters, the Belgian
who emerged from the bunch to chase Fowler
all the way down the stretch.
It was not how it was planned, a smiling
Fowler said of the tight finish, but came out
on top.
Fowler, who held a two-stroke lead after a
third-round 65, shot a 3-under 69 for 16-under
272 overall. Pieters (67) was runner-up, with

fast-finishing Rory McIlroy (68) and Henrik

Stenson (67) tied for third.
There was satisfaction for Fowler with
claiming his fourth win worldwide in nine months,
after victories at The Players Championship,
the Scottish Open, and the Deutsche Bank
Championship in 2015. This win will move him
from No. 6 to No. 4 in the rankings, for a firstever spot in the worlds top five.
The so-called Big Three of Jordan Spieth,
Jason Day and McIlroy may need to be enlarged.
I want to be part of the crew. It would be a
pretty good foursome, Fowler said. I think I
mentioned through the summer at some point, I
said I was a sneaky fourth. Weve got to take care
of a major and then maybe I can join the crew.
The win was extra special for Fowler,
considering Spieth (No. 1), McIlroy (No. 3) and
Stenson (No. 5) were in the field arguably the
strongest the European Tour will have this year.
Spieth tied for fifth five shots behind
Fowler after a 68 and acknowledged after
his final round that he was beat up, mentally
and physically, having played in South Korea,
China, Australia, Bahamas, Hawaii and now Abu
Dhabi since October.

Tuesday
January 26, 2016
28

Vientiane Times

Sports

Provinces prepare budding

talent for 2017 Student Games
Sangkhomsay
Bubphanouvong

M
Lao women pistol shooters at the 9th National Games in Luang Prabang province. (File photo)

International shooters
take aim at new Mesa facility
Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong

hooters from Laos, Singapore, Thailand,

Hong Kong and Macao will test their skills
in a friendly competition at the new Mesa
Shooting Training Centre in Vientiane from
February 13.
The 9mm pistol competition will see men
and women take part in a first time test run of the
shooting range. The project in Somsa-nga village,
Xaysettha district, is still currently on target with
work expected to be 95 percent complete come
competition time mid next month.
The 12 hectare site is owned by the Ministry
of Public Security with the Consultancy Company
on Investment and Electrical Construction having
invested some US$10 million in the training
centre which features 20 shooting lanes for rifle
events and another 35 lanes for pistol events.
Lao Shooting Federation Vice President Mr
Lamphieng Phommakong said some shooters
from neighbouring countries had already visited

the new centre and were very interested in attending

the friendly competition.
In April, many police will also be competing at
the shooting range as part of celebrations for Police
Day on April 5, Mr Lamphieng said.
He said after the test run competitions shooters
would be able to train regularly at the new facility.
The Vientiane Shooting Federation and Lao
Shooting Federation will also have the opportunity
to hold national and international competitions
(piston and rifle events) in the future.
The Lao Shooting Federation team won three
gold, one silver and one bronze medal at the 25th
SEA Games in Vientiane in 2009.
At the 28th SEA Games in Singapore last year
the Lao team unfortunately finished outside the
medals. It was the same at the 27th SEA Games in
Myanmar in 2013, but Laos did win a gold medal
at the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia in 2011.
Meanwhile, the Lao womens shooting team
gained good experience at the Asian Games in the
Republic of Korea in September 2014.

any provinces
are
now
organising
local sports
competitions in the hope of
selecting talented footballers
to compete at the 11th National
Student Games to be hosted by
Borikhamxay in 2017.
From January 26-29, Xieng
Khuang will hold a provincial
football competition for male
and female secondary school
students. The competition will
be run by the Education and
Sports Department and Spirit
of Soccer.
There are eight boys
football teams from eight
districts in Xieng Khuang
province and five girls football
teams from five districts.
The provincial Education
and Sports Departments target

is for friendly games to enhance

the skills of young footballers
and to select talented players
to represent the province at
the 11th Student Games to be
held in Borikhamxay province.
It is also hoped the football
competition will assist in
educating the young students
of Xieng Khuang about the
unexploded bombs that still
exist in remote area of the
province.
After the Student Games,
Xieng Khuang province will
host the 11th National Games
at the end of 2017.
At the end of 2015,
Xieng Khuang hosted its
own games, comprising
football, volleyball, petanque,
badminton, sepak takraw,
taekwondo, and track and field
events.
Xieng Khuang province
sent more than 300 athletes,
trainers and officials to the

10th National Games in

Oudomxay province last year.
The team finished 10th
with nine gold, 17 silver and
22 bronze medals.
2017 will be first time that
Xieng Khuang has hosted the
National Games. The province
previously hosted the National
Traditional Games in 2011.
Elsewhere, the Borikhamxay
provincial Education and Sports
Department held the annual
student games from January
14-21. Events included football,
sepak takraw, volleyball,
petanque, badminton, chess,
top spinning, crossbow, and
track and field.
The 2017 National Student
Games in Borikhamxay province
will feature football, sepak
takraw, volleyball, petanque,
badminton, chess, top spinning,
crossbow, taekwondo, table
tennis, basketball, and track and
field events.

Arsenal down to 3rd in Premier

League after Chelsea loss

Arsenals Laurent Koscielny (front) and Chelseas Branislav Ivanovic fall over each other as they vie for
the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates
stadium in London on Sunday.
--Photo AP

LONDON (AP) -- A change

of managers at Chelsea but
Arsenal still cant conquer its
London rival.
Arsenal was undone by a
damaging five-minute spell
in the first-half of Sundays
derby against a Chelsea team
unbeaten after a month under
Guus Hiddinks control.
Per Mertesacker was sent
off for tripping Diego Costa,
then the striker scored the
games only goal at the Emirates
Stadium in the 23rd minute.
He got Mertesacker sent
off, Arsenal manager Arsene
Wenger said of Costa. A fact
is a fact, I do not accuse him
of anything. Its just what
happened.
Its now four years, three
months since Wenger figured
out how to beat Chelsea, which
is on its fifth manager since
the 5-3 loss to Arsenal in
November 2011.
Arsenal turned its stadium

into a fortress this season,

remaining unbeaten in the
league since the opening day
until Sunday.
Arsenal dropped from first
to third place this weekend,
behind leader Leicester and
Manchester City, although
there are 45 points still to
play for.
We had a mountain to
climb with 10 men but I
believe even there, there was
enough to come out at least
with a 1-1, Wenger said. Its
a shame to put such an energy
into a game and come away
without the point. And overall
I felt we gave absolutely
everything until the end.
Wenger was jeered by
Arsenal fans for replacing
striker Olivier Giroud with
defender Gabriel after losing
Mertesacker.
You want to make a
poll for every decision to see
who does what? I made the

decision and for me it was

quite normal, Wenger told
reporters. We had to go for
long distances and we needed
pace to go from one goal to
the other. We knew we had to
drop deeper and use pace to
get forward.
For Chelsea, the focus is
now on the Champions League
and FA Cup.
Since Jose Mourinho was
fired last month for turning
the champs into chumps, the
league campaign has been
about restoring pride.
Hiddink has achieved
three wins and four draws,
but Chelsea is still in the lower
reaches of the standings in 13th
place. The fourth Champions
League place, occupied by
Tottenham 14 points away,
looks unobtainable.
Everton is a point and a
place above Chelsea after
losing 2-1 to Swansea in
Sundays other game.