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Laos To Commemorate 450th Anniversary of Vientiane


Click here for Lao version/ຄລິກບ່ອນນີ້ເພື່ອອ່ານພາສາລາວ

Lao authorities have released their plan to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the founding of Vientiane capital. The commemoration will take place continuously for 11 months, with the grandest celebration to coincide with the 2010 That Luang festival.

Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad, Laos' Standing Deputy Prime Minister, recently announced a celebration process marking the 450th anniversary of the founding of Vientiane as the capital of Laos, starting from January to November when the biggest celebration is planned for November 15-21, to coincide with the 2010 That Luang festival.

Mr. Somsavad said there will be different commemorative events for each month beginning with an Armed Forces Week in January, a Tour Vientiane Week in February, and a Lao Revolutionary Party Week in March. April will feature a Young Lao Week, to follow by a Lao Trade Union Week in May. Two commemorative events to take place in June are an Agricultural Week anda Youth Week. In July, there will be an Intellectual Week and a Lao Women Week, followed by a Lao Front for National Construction and Veterans Week in August and a "Week of Six Cleanlinesses" in September, while October will be the month for getting everything ready for the big celebration in November, which will take place at three different locations and will include a grand meeting and cultural performances at the Chao Anouvong Stadium, an agricultural and handicraft expo at the National Esplanade on the That Luang ground, and an industrial and trade fair at the Lao-ITEC.

In addition, Lao authorities have embarked on 21 development projects to mark this 450th Anniversary of the founding of Vientiane as the capital of Laos. These include construction of the new stadium at Km 18th along Route 13 South, which was used as the main venue of the 25th SEA Games that took place last December, construction of an embankment along the Mekong riverbank from Kaolieu to That Khao, a project to expand some major thoroughfare around Vientiane as well as a project to improve and expand the That Luang esplanade and ground.

Since all of these projects need a huge amount of funding, the Lao government which faces a shortage of budget has to rely mainly on foreign aids as well as loans from both domestic and foreign lending sources. It is estimated that Laos will need almost 100 billion kip to fund the remaining projects.

Songrit Pongern reported from Bangkok on 02 February, 2010. Listen to his report for more details in Lao, or read our Lao text.

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