About 20 officials from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, and Planning and Investment, and provincial foreign affairs departments attended a training course in Beijing, China, early this month.

Delegation leader Mr Bouamine Chouanglasy, who is Director of the Khammuan Foreign Affairs Department, told the Vientiane Times last weekend that the training is valuable in ensuring Laos learns from China’s socio-economic development.

“The methodology of the Chinese socio-economic mechanism, in use since their economic reform began in 1978, correlates with our current situation, so the training course will be very helpful for the development of Laos,” he said.

The delegates were invited to China for almost a month to study theory and undertake field trips.

A Lao and Chinese cooperation committee set up the course.

Mr Bouamine said the delegation was the third batch of trainees to benefit from the cooperation between Laos and China this year. The training courses have been running since 2008 and will continue until 2012, owing to a Lao and Chinese cooperation committee agreement.

He explained that since China opened up to the world in 1978, its transformation into a market economy has generated strong development and increased the well-being of Chinese citizens.

“The Chinese methodology is useful for us to develop Laos at this time and it is the policy of both countries’ governments to increase bilateral cooperation,” Mr Bouamine said.

China has a policy to help and support developing countries, and Laos fits this description.

The Lao delegation will continue its visit this week with trips to Shanghai and Hunan province.

“All our participants have promised to apply their newly-acquired knowledge and experience to their organisations and offices to ensure success in the future. We hope that China will continue its cooperation to support the development of Lao officials and the nation as a whole,” Mr Bouamine said.

Source: Vientiane Times
by Souknilundon Southivongnorath
September 15, 2010