Lao morning news for December 25

Laos lost $30 million to corruption this year
Corruption in Laos has become worse despite the government’s ramped-up efforts to battle the issue over the past two years, NGOs say.
— Investine

Russian de-miners in Laos clear over 40 hectares of mines
embers of the Russian Armed Forces’ International Anti-Mine Center’s team deployed to Laos have cleared more than 40 hectares of mines, Russia’s Krasnaya Zvezda (or Red Star) newspaper reported on Monday.
— Tass

Lao’s tourism problem
Earlier this year, the Lao government had targeted to attract around 5 million tourists and earn around US$900 million this year. Unfortunately, recent local reports quoted Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdala as telling a parliament’s session that the goal may not be realised this year.
— The Asean Post

Work progresses on Huayxai airport expansion
The runway at Huayxai Airport in Bokeo province is currently being extended to better serve regional transport needs and accommodate the growth of investment and tourism.
–– Vientiane Times

Laos, Vietnam vow continuing cooperation to combat environmental crime
The Lao and Vietnamese governments are continuing to strengthen their cooperation in efforts to combat environmental crime, which is on the increase in both countries.
— Vientiane Times

Corruption still rife in Laos despite continued crackdown efforts
The government of Laos says it has been ramping up its efforts to battle corruption over the past two years, but NGOs say that the situation in Laos is getting worse.
— Radio Free Asia

Vietnamese, Lao fronts bolster relations
President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man received Vice President of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Khambay Damlat in Hanoi on December 24.
— Nhan Dan

After the flood
How villagers in Lao PDR’s Khammouane Province find their own ways to recover after a disaster.
— UN

Japan’s ambassador hands former ambassador’s donation to Attapeu
The Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR Takeshi Hikihara met Governor of Attapeu Province Let Xayaphone on Dec 17 in Vientiane.
— Lao News Agency

Lao-Swiss development cooperation dialogue
The governments of Lao PDR and Switzerland met in Vientiane Capital early this month to review the Lao – Swiss development cooperation strategy in the country and the Mekong Region
— Lao News Agency

Laos, Vietnam highly value ties, cooperation
Lao and Vietnamese foreign ministers have highly valued the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation which have been strengthened constantly in all dimensions.
— Lao News Agency

Laos not fully benefiting from regional economic integration: think tank
Laos has not fully benefited from the recent regional economic integration as its share of trade with ASEAN nations has declined …
— Xinhua

Ministry to speed investment approval process
The Ministry of Planning and Investment has pledged to intensify action to speed up the consideration and approval of investment projects after learning that it typically took longer than the timeframe stipulated by law.
— Vientiane Times

Lao President replies to Supreme Leader’s congratulations
Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, received a reply message from Bounnang Vorachith, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and president of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), on Dec 21.
— Independent

Feature photo Global News

This week’s morning news photo features a defining moment, event, or situation from 2018 for each country as chosen by our editors.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Lao morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Lao PDR news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.