Vietnamplus

The Office of the Lao Prime Minister on January 20 asked authorities to consider loosening several COVID-19 prevention and control measures, including entry restrictions.

Ice and snow have been spotted on Mount Fansipan, the highest mountain in Vietnam, as a result of widespread rain and freezing temperatures on early January 21.

The Lao Government has banned the import of certain types of agricultural produce, livestock and fish, aimed at spurring the farming of these crops and animals in Laos to boost the economy and generate more revenue for farmers.

The Bank of the Lao P.D.R (BOL) has issued licences authorising two companies to trade in cryptocurrencies, local daily Vientiane Times reported on January 19.

As temperatures are plummeting to below zero degree Celsius on January 18, hoarfrost has blanketed the top of Mount Fansipan – the highest peak in Indochina – in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai.

Laos’ Ministry of Health has advised local residents to reduce the scale of festivals and only conduct traditional rituals during this year’s peak festival season in order to avoid mass gathering and prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

The northern provinces of Lao Cai and Quang Ninh have decided to temporarily halt receiving vehicles of fresh fruits for export to China via some of their border gates and crossings, as congestion is still lingering there.

The Lao Ministry of Health announced on January 14 that the country had recorded 1,052 new cases of COVID-19 and four deaths over the past 24 hours.

The World Bank has predicted that Laos will see economic growth of 4.5 percent in 2022 and 4.8 percent in 2023 despite projected slower growth of the global economy, Vientiane Times reported.

Chinese authority on January 12 re-opened its Hekou International Border Gate – which pairs with Vietnam's Kim Thanh II border gate in the northern province of Lao Cai – for imported fresh fruits, including dragon fruit, and frozen foods from Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Laos has been the largest recipient of Vietnam's overseas investment so far, with 209 projects totalling 5.1 billion USD in registered capital, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung has said.

Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh and his entourage left Hanoi on January 10, concluding their three-day visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Phankham Viphavanh met with 60 Vietnamese and 20 Lao enterprises in Hanoi on January 10.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on January 10 for Lao Minister of Public Security Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong, during which he appreciated the latter's efforts to promote the special and precious traditional ties between the Parties and States, including between their ministries of public security.

The close cooperation between the Ministries of Public Security of Vietnam and Laos has contributed to deepening and consolidating the special friendship and solidarity between the two Parties, States and peoples.

Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh is paying an official visit to Vietnam on January 8-10 at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh in Hanoi on January 8, describing his guest’s official visit to Vietnam as a demonstration of the close-knit and special ties between the two countries.

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh shared the view that both sides must foster closer coordination and come up with breakthrough measures to enhance their cooperation’s effectiveness while meeting in Hanoi on January 8.

Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue met with Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh, who is on an official visit to Vietnam, in Hanoi on January 8.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Phankham Viphavanh held a press conference and launched the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year in Hanoi on January 8.