President receives foreign envoys on National Day
rganisations accredited in Vientiane, Laos, on the occasion of the 34th founding anniversary of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the international New Year 2010.
“Today, together with other leaders of the Party and government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, I have a great honour and pleasure to welcome members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of international organisations accredited in the Lao PDR,” said the President.
The president highlighted the close cooperation of the international community in helping the Lao PDR fulfill various activities such as maintaining durable peace, fighting against poverty and communicable diseases, reducing pollution and addressing the pressing concern of climate change.
“We have witnessed the concerted efforts of all nations to overcome the negative consequences resulted by the global economic crisis and to accomplish our common endeavour on advancing socio-economic development,” said the President. “At this important juncture, it has also been a great pride for all the Lao people as the Lao PDR has increasingly taken an active role in accomplishing the shared mission of all nations.”
The Lao President highlighted the utmost efforts made by the Party and Lao people in interpreting into reality the Resolutions of the 8th Party Congress by focusing on pursuing the national development endeavour with a view to eradicating poverty and fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals, to which the Lao PDR is committed, thus contributing to achieving the overarching goal of lifting the country from the Least Developed Country status.
“Despite numerous difficulties and constraints encountered as a result of the recent global financial crisis and natural calamities, the Lao PDR has firmly maintained its domestic security, political stability, and a steady rate of economic growth,” said Mr. Choummaly. “This year, GDP growth of 7.6% has been recorded, the overall livelihood of people has been progressively improved, and the per capita income has reached 920 US$,” he added.
Mr. Choummaly also briefed on the concentration of the Lao ethnic people on the preparation for hosting the 25th SEA Games as well as the commemoration of the 450th anniversary of the proclamation of Vientiane as the national capital in 2010, which will be another event of great significance for all the Lao people. On the occasion, Dr. Peter Wienand, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany and Dean of the diplomatic corps on behalf of the foreign envoys expressed warm greetings and best wishes to the President Choummaly Sayasone, and Party and Government leaders.
“Today we have come together to celebrate the 34th anniversary of the foundation of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975,” said Dr. Peter. “Laos is on a path of fast modernisation and has all the chances to reach most of the Millennium Development Goals in 2015 and leave the LDC-status behind her in 2020 as planned.”
But a fast modernisation brings with it a host of challenges. The convoys’ leader express appreciation on the government of Laos for its doing utmost to strengthen good neighbourly relation and widen its circle of diplomatic partner by opening new embassies in regions formerly not in the focus of its foreign policy, and play a more and active role in ASEAN, the Greater Mekong Sub-region and other regional organisation like the CLV-Cooperation.
Over the last year ASEAN and its Mekong Sub region moved into the limelight of international interest as recent high-ranking meeting organised in Japan as well as in Bangkok and Singapore showed. And Laos as the Mekong’s heartland plays a vital role in all plans regarding this region.
The ratification of the “UN Pact on Civil and Political Rights” and other important UN-convention underline the government’s firm intention to integrate Laos even further into the international community of states. And the support of Laos for the “Oslo Convention against cluster munition” was instrumental for its adoption.
The first meeting of the State Parties of this Convention, which is scheduled to take place in Vientiane next year, will draw a host of high-ranking politicians and diplomats from all over the world to the Lao Capital.
Vientiane became a much valued for international and regional meeting like the one of the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians at the beginning of this year or the “Eco-Tourism World Conference”.
The improved infrastructure thanks to the SEA-Games combined with the cultural richness and the warm hospitality of the Lao people will surely increase the attraction of the country and its capital not only for official visitors but for tourists as well.
To preserve the cultural heritage, the uniqueness of Laos, is in view of the leveling tendencies of a global lifestyle one of the great challenges Laos and its leadership are facing. Many of us who like Laos and admire the pleasant and time-honoured traditions still in place did contribute and contribute to their preservation and hope for a happy marriage of tradition with modern development.
He also expressed condolences to the victims of tropical storm Ketsana, which hit the southern provinces in September.
KPL Lao News Agency
December 02, 2009
