US and Laos to Strengthen Relations and Cooperation

Click here for Lao version/ຄລິກບ່ອນນີ້ເພື່ອອ່ານພາສາລາວ

Laos and the U.S. say they will work to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation in the media and cultural fields, especially in human resources development, and to relentlessly continue to build on existing cooperation programs.

During his recent farewell visit to Laos' Minister of Information and Culture Mounkeo Olaboun, Mr. Ravic Huso, outgoing US Ambassador to Laos, reaffirmed that the cooperation in the media and cultural areas between Laos and the United States, has been continuously developed and will be further strengthened.

In the past, the U.S. has provided assistance to Laos in many areas, including the conservation of ancient artifacts, reading promotion, preservation of palm leaf manuscripts, maintenance of the national museums in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, traditional cultural exchanges,journalist training and studying tours in the U.S., as well as improvements of Laos' National Library.

In his part, Mr. Mounkeo acknowledged the United States' assistance in those areas, saying it has been beneficial to his nation and the Lao people. It further reflects the increasingly improved relations and cooperation between Laos and the U.S. The two nations recently reached the 55^th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

The U.S. embassy in Vientiane held a reception earlier this month, not only to celebrate the occasion but also to reaffirm continuous expansion of relations and cooperation between the two countries, be it in the trade and economic areas where the U.S. has pledged support for Laos' quick entry into the World Trade Organization, or in the counter-narcotics field where the U.S. has provided assistance to Laos in its efforts to fight drug trafficking as well as transnational human trafficking. Other areas of U.S. aid to Laos include equipments and funding for its UXO(unexploded ordnance) clearance, assistance in the intervention of infectious diseases, as well as help in its poverty reduction efforts.

For its part, Laos has provided valuable help to the United States in its efforts to search for and recover remains of Americans missing in the Indochina War.

For more details in La, listen to Songrit's report, aired on March 5, 2010.