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China Pushes Free-Trade Zone covering North-Western Laos to Thai Mekong Ports
China aims to strengthen commercial ties with Mekong region countries by installing a free-trade zone covering north-western Laos and northern Thai ports on the Mekong River. The free-frade zone covers north-western Laos In the planned zone, Beijing will waive tariffs and value-added tax on imports from countries that do not share a border with China. “This is the first time that China has offered special privileges via border trade to have closer ties with the Mekong countries and finally to the whole of ASEAN,” said Danaitun Pongpatcharatorntep of Chiang Mai University’s China Intelligence Centre. President Xi Jinping vowed last week to import $40 trillion worth of goods and services over the next 15 years — a figure that includes products from Mekong nations. China’s move to boost commercial ties in the Mekong region appears to be a way to mitigate the fallout from the trade war with the United States. Chinese cargo boats in Chiang Khong, Thailand China has poured $1.7 million this year into the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation — an initiative proposed by Thailand to develop the region. The cooperation came up with the idea of extending the China-Laos border free-trade zone to the Thai-Laos border, which appears to cover all of Luang Namtha and Bokeo provinces. Oramon Sapthaweetham, director-general of Thailand’s Trade Negotiation Department, said the trade zone will cover an area stretching from the southern Chinese border district of Mohan to Chiang Khong in far north of Thailand. China has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Laotian government to study a project to shorten travel times on the R3A highway that links Kunming, Chine with Houay Say in Laos and Thailand’s Chiang Khong. Beijing also intends to use the project to capitalize on growing demand for cross-border e-commerce. The Chinese government has built up such facilities and logistics infrastructure with a one-stop customs services in Mohan and other locations along its southern borders. “Thailand is also interested in developing its e-commerce in Mohan and is about to set up Chiang Mai as an e-commerce hub aiming to export more products to southern China,” Oramon said. She said the free trade zone will also be a way for Thailand and the Mekong countries to profit from China’s flagship Belt and Road initiative by exporting into the European market via China’s western border with Kazakhstan. Source: Chiang Rai Times
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Hundreds Rehearse for Viengxay’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
Over 600 students have taken part in the final rehearsal for the grand opening ceremony of the celebration of Viengxay’s 50th Anniversary as the revolutionary stronghold of Lao people. Viengxay Caves The rehearsal was held at the main square of Viengxay district, Houaphanh Province. The coming grand celebration of Viengxay will take place on November 30, 2018 in Viengxay district, Huaphan Province. The celebration of the historic event will feature several activities including 22 parades, shows portraying the fighting of Lao people for national liberty in Viengxay decades ago, cultural performance, trade fair of handicraft and agricultural products, as well as the festivals of ethnic minorities. Viengxay, located in the mountainous province Huaphan, houses a number of caves and some of them were used as residential and working places by revolutionary leaders including President Kaysone Phomvihane and his predecessor Souphanouvong. Between 1964 and 1970, Viengxay was heavily bombarded and a number of patriots sacrificed their lives for the national revolutionary cause. Vice President Phankham Viphavanh, who is also head of the organising committee for the celebration of the 50thanniversary of Viengxay, has called on relevant sectors to continue implementing their tasks in an effective manner so that they can fulfill the objectives of the celebration. Source: KPL
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Nippon TV ‘Fabricates’ Lao Festival
A Japanese media watchdog has decided to demand that Nippon Television Network Corp. issue a report in response to allegations that it fabricated a Lao festival in a popular variety show broadcast in May. “We’ll also check the broadcast images,” Asaka Kanda, head of the Broadcasting Ethics & Program Improvement Organization (BPO), said Friday. The weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun recently reported that the purported festival, in which people compete to see how fast they can pass a wooden strip over a pool of water on a bicycle, had not existed in a region of the Southeast Asian country before it was introduced in the TV show, “Sekai no Hatemade Itte Q!” The TV station has admitted that the festival was held for the first time in the region. But it has denied making up the festival, saying it is a popular festival Southeast Asian broadcasters have reported about. View Video. Source: The Japan Times
