On the morning of the August 17, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Lao PDR, Ms Grata Endah Werdaningtyas, leads a ceremony to raise the Indonesian flag at the Indonesian Embassy to mark the 80th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia. The ceremony was attended by Embassy staff, the Indonesian community in Vientiane, and invited Lao guests, the friends of Indonesia. The theme of this year’s anniversary was “Bersatu Berdaulat, Rakyat Sejahtera, Indonesia Maju”, meaning “United Sovereignty, Prosperous People, Developed Indonesia”. The ceremony, commanded by the Indonesian Defence Attache in Laos, consisted of the raising of the red and white flag by three Indonesian young people accompanied by the national anthem “Indonesia Raya”, the reading of the Pancasila, Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, and the Proclamation of Independence Manuscript (which on August 17, 1945, was read by Ir. Soekarno, the first President of the Republic of Indonesia). After the flag-raising, the programme continued with cultural performances by Lao and Indonesian young people, who portrayed Indonesian art and culture through “angklung” music. The Lao participants are Indonesian language learners at the Indonesian Embassy in Vientiane.

Head of the Xaysettha district labour and social welfare office, Mr Phoulahong Chanthavongsa, representing the Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department, on Monday presents a National Labour Standard Practice Certificate Award to the General Manager of Vientiane Diamond Cutting Co., Ltd., Mr Rajesh Nambully, watched by other representatives of the two sides. The company was praised for its  international standard of operation, including good customer service, good accommodation for staff, provision of a kindergarten, and other criteria, under the supervision of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

Members of the Laos-Korea Friendship Association last week hand over 28 boxes of medicine worth US$63,970 to staff at Vientiane province’s Health Department for distribution to hospitals in Vientiane, Bolikhamxay, Xiengkhouang and Xayabouly provinces. The supplies were funded by the Korea-Laos Friendship Association and members of the public in South Korea. --Photo Pasaxon

Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on Friday hand over four greenhouses worth more than 100 million kip to Khammuan province’s Agriculture and Environment Department during a meeting to discuss agricultural development, attended by the Governor of Khammuan province, Mr Vanxay Fongsavanh, and other officials from the two sides. --Photo Pasaxon

Members of the Luang Prabang province branch of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union last week deliver 3 tonnes of rice and household items worth 113 million kip to Ngeun and Nan districts for distribution to families affected by widespread flooding last month.      --Photo Pathetlao