5:48 PM MYT
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): Authorities have ordered inspections of imported seafood amid fears that food imported from Thailand could be contaminated with the coronavirus following a fresh outbreak in that country.
The National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on Dec 24 issued a notice asking the ministries responsible to begin inspections.
It came shortly after the Ministry of Industry and Commerce banned the import and transit via Laos of seafood from neighbouring countries that have an ongoing outbreak of Covid-19.
It was seen as a clear reference to Thailand, a main seafood supplier for Laos, after an outbreak of Covid-19 was reported at a wholesale shrimp market in the kingdom’s Samut Sakhon province.
Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Savankhone Razmountry. - VT
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): Laos needs to strengthen capacity building in order to further cooperate with Asean nations, particularly in the area of socio-cultural aspect.
Meanwhile Asean nations need to expand cooperation with countries outside the bloc to ensure the socio-cultural pillar is developed as planned.
Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Savankhone Razmountry highlighted the importance of this pillar for reinforcing Asean cooperation.
The meeting was organised by the Planning and International Cooperation Department of Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism in Vientiane on Wednesday (Dec 23).
Attended by representatives from various ministries and organisations, the meeting aimed to disseminate the information about the success of Asean Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).
3:08 PM MYT
Khamchan Vongsenboun and Xiao Qianwen at the signing ceremony in Vientiane on Dec 11, 2220. - VT/ANN
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): The government and the Laos-China Railway Co, Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the development of areas surrounding railway stations in the capital and Oudomxay, Vientiane and Luang Prabang provinces, with the aim of fostering industry and logistics.
The agreement was signed in Vientiane on Friday (Dec 11) between Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Khamchan Vongsenboun, General Manager of the Laos-China Railway Company, Xiao Qianwen, and representatives of the four areas concerned.
The signing was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport, Dr Viengsavath Siphandone, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Thongphat Vongmany, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Bounmy Phoutthavong, and other guests.