Enhancing bilateral ties: South Korea govt empowers Lao officials and students
The government of South Korea has awarded scholarships to 32 Lao government officials and students, making an important contribution to human resource development in Laos.
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The 2024 Korea Scholarship Awards ceremony was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Vientiane on July 31, hosted by the Korean Embassy and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Office in Laos.
The 32 awardees from various ministries, private offices, and students received the scholarships from the Korean government (GKS, KOICA, and KOFIH) for 2024.
The scholarships were handed over by the Korean Ambassador to Laos, Mr Jung Yung-Soo, in the presence of the Chairman of the Laos-Korea Friendship Association, Mr Khamsouay Keodalavong; Country Director of the KOICA Office in Laos, Mrs Kim Myung-Jin; and Country Director of the KOFIH Office in Laos, Ms Kim Hyun-Kyong.
The ceremony was held to congratulate the successful candidates and encourage Lao citizens, both young people and government officials, to apply for Korean scholarships and improve their knowledge and abilities so they can better contribute to the development of Laos.
The 2024 Korea Scholarship Awards combine three government scholarships, namely the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) with 21 awardees, mainly young students; the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Scholarship Programme ‘CIAT (Capacity Improvement and Advancement for Tomorrow)’ with 7 awardees; and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) with 4 awardees, mainly government officials.
These scholarships cover various fields such as education, public policy, agriculture, gender equality, and ICT, all of which are important sectors to support the socio-economic development of Laos.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Yung-Soo stressed that it is highly valued that Korea and Laos have achieved solid social, cultural, and economic cooperation and joint growth over the past 30 years.
Over the next 30 years, the relationship between the two countries will be further developed by young Lao people who deeply understand both nations and have strong expertise in various fields, he added.
A representative of the successful candidates delivered heartfelt messages of gratitude to the Korean government for its support.
There was also a knowledge-sharing session by a 2021 KOICA alumnus, Ms Toutou Chittavong, who shared her experiences of studying in Korea and gave tips on how to write a thesis.
The governments of South Korea and Laos hope these scholarships will build solid connections and foster even stronger relationships between the two countries and their citizens, paving the way for further cooperation and development in the future.
By Times Reporters
(Latest Update August 2, 2024)
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