Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith and Cuban President Diaz-Canel met in Havana on Wednesday, where President Thongloun also attended the G77+China Summit. The two leaders reaffirmed their shared interest in expanding cooperation in a variety of fields.
Cuban President Diaz-Canel expressed his appreciation for President Thongloun’s visit to Cuba, which he said demonstrates Laos’s commitment to the G77+China cause and its support for Cuba’s presidency. “We are very grateful for this,” he added.
On the same day, President Thongloun also met with Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz to reiterate their shared commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across several areas of mutual interest, like agriculture, health, sports, politics, the economy, and trade, the Vientiane Times reported.
PM Marrero commended the close ties between Laos and Cuba since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations in 1974. He noted that friendly relations and cooperation have flourished since then, with many high-level delegations from both countries visiting each other to discuss and strengthen cooperation, particularly in sectors like education, health, and agriculture.
At the meeting, President Thoungloun also emphasized the importance of PM Marrero’s visit to Laos last year, which further strengthened bilateral ties and cooperation.
Additionally, during their interaction, PM Marrero invited Laos to attend the 39th Havana International Fair in November.
President Thongloun and his delegation arrived in Cuba on Monday to participate in the G77+China Summit in Havana from 15-16 September, where leaders from over 100 countries will discuss and coordinate collective and practical responses to current challenges.
The G77 is a group of 134 developing nations, including Laos, that are part of the United Nations. Founded in 1964, the G77 works to boost economic, scientific, and technological cooperation among its members and to advocate for the interests of developing countries at the UN.
Singapore’s Changi International Airport, often hailed as the world’s best airport, is further improving its facilities by implementing automated immigration clearance starting next year.
According to CNN, officials at Singapore’s Changi Airport will introduce innovative technology that allows passengers to depart from the city-state without passports, by just using biometric data.
“This will reduce the need for passengers to repeatedly present their travel documents at these touchpoints, allowing for more seamless and convenient processing,” said Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information & Second Minister for Home Affairs, in a speech to parliament on Monday.
However, passports will still be required for many countries outside of Singapore that do not offer passport-free clearance, Teo emphasized.
Biometric data, along with facial recognition is already being used to some extent in Changi Airport at automated lanes at immigration checkpoints. By next year, biometrics will be used to create a “single token of authentication”, that could be utilized at various automated touchpoints, including baggage check-ins, immigration clearance, and boarding.
Singapore’s Changi Airport sees more than 100 airlines that fly to 400 cities around the world. In 2023, the Airport handled over 4 million passenger movements every month and surpassed the 5 million mark in June for the first time since January 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Laos-China Railway Company has purchased a new electric multiple-unit (EMU) train, which will be delivered today, to support domestic and international tourist demand.
“A new EMU train has been acquired to boost domestic and international passenger travel, particularly in preparation for Laos’ Chairmanship of ASEAN and Visit Laos Year 2024,” said Mr. Anongdeth Phetkayson, the Deputy Director of Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd.
Mr. Anongdeth said the new EMU train features wireless charging and touch-sensitive seat adjustment systems.
Currently, the Laos-China Railway Company runs a total of 5 passenger trains per day, four of which are EMUs and one is a regular train.
According to China Radio International in Vientiane, the Laos-China Railway service has carried over 3.1 million passengers since its opening on 3 December 2021, averaging 4,889 passengers daily and recording the highest passenger count of 10,197 per day.
In 2023, so far, over 1.75 million passengers have traveled on the Laos-China Railway, up 103.7 percent from the same period in 2022.
Additionally, since the start of the cross-border train operation on 13 April 2023, a total of 61,698 passengers have traveled across the border, with an average of 201 people traveling outside the country and 190 people traveling to Laos per day.
The railway has also been an efficient transport option for trade, with over 5.38 million tons of goods being transported since it started operations, averaging 8,229 tons per day, with a maximum daily count of 15,250 tons.
The main trading items have been fruits, cassava flour, barley, rubber, beer, iron ore, concentrated iron ore, and chemical fertilizers, of which 770,900 tons were sent from China to Laos, and 4.56 million tons were exported from Laos to China.
Meanwhile, Amid a surge in passenger travel, the Laos-China Railway Company has also proposed to the Lao government to increase the price of train tickets this year, due to considerable exchange rate fluctuations and the depreciation of the Laotian Kip (LAK).
Lao President Meets with Cuban Leaders to Deepen Bilateral Ties, Attends G77-China Summit
Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith and Cuban President Diaz-Canel met in Havana on Wednesday, where President Thongloun also attended the G77+China Summit. The two leaders reaffirmed their shared interest in expanding cooperation in a variety of fields.
Cuban President Diaz-Canel expressed his appreciation for President Thongloun’s visit to Cuba, which he said demonstrates Laos’s commitment to the G77+China cause and its support for Cuba’s presidency. “We are very grateful for this,” he added.
On the same day, President Thongloun also met with Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz to reiterate their shared commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across several areas of mutual interest, like agriculture, health, sports, politics, the economy, and trade, the Vientiane Times reported.
PM Marrero commended the close ties between Laos and Cuba since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations in 1974. He noted that friendly relations and cooperation have flourished since then, with many high-level delegations from both countries visiting each other to discuss and strengthen cooperation, particularly in sectors like education, health, and agriculture.
At the meeting, President Thoungloun also emphasized the importance of PM Marrero’s visit to Laos last year, which further strengthened bilateral ties and cooperation.
Additionally, during their interaction, PM Marrero invited Laos to attend the 39th Havana International Fair in November.
President Thongloun and his delegation arrived in Cuba on Monday to participate in the G77+China Summit in Havana from 15-16 September, where leaders from over 100 countries will discuss and coordinate collective and practical responses to current challenges.
The G77 is a group of 134 developing nations, including Laos, that are part of the United Nations. Founded in 1964, the G77 works to boost economic, scientific, and technological cooperation among its members and to advocate for the interests of developing countries at the UN.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/09/15/lao-president-meets-with-cuban-leaders-to-deepen-bilateral-ties-attends-g77-china-summit/
Singapore’s Changi Airport to Introduce Passport-Free Departures
Singapore’s Changi International Airport, often hailed as the world’s best airport, is further improving its facilities by implementing automated immigration clearance starting next year.
According to CNN, officials at Singapore’s Changi Airport will introduce innovative technology that allows passengers to depart from the city-state without passports, by just using biometric data.
“This will reduce the need for passengers to repeatedly present their travel documents at these touchpoints, allowing for more seamless and convenient processing,” said Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information & Second Minister for Home Affairs, in a speech to parliament on Monday.
However, passports will still be required for many countries outside of Singapore that do not offer passport-free clearance, Teo emphasized.
Biometric data, along with facial recognition is already being used to some extent in Changi Airport at automated lanes at immigration checkpoints. By next year, biometrics will be used to create a “single token of authentication”, that could be utilized at various automated touchpoints, including baggage check-ins, immigration clearance, and boarding.
Singapore’s Changi Airport sees more than 100 airlines that fly to 400 cities around the world. In 2023, the Airport handled over 4 million passenger movements every month and surpassed the 5 million mark in June for the first time since January 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/09/22/singapores-changi-airport-to-introduce-passport-free-departures/
Laos-China Railway Purchases New Train to Boost Passenger Travel
Laos-China Railway Company has purchased a new electric multiple-unit (EMU) train, which will be delivered today, to support domestic and international tourist demand.
“A new EMU train has been acquired to boost domestic and international passenger travel, particularly in preparation for Laos’ Chairmanship of ASEAN and Visit Laos Year 2024,” said Mr. Anongdeth Phetkayson, the Deputy Director of Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd.
Mr. Anongdeth said the new EMU train features wireless charging and touch-sensitive seat adjustment systems.
Currently, the Laos-China Railway Company runs a total of 5 passenger trains per day, four of which are EMUs and one is a regular train.
According to China Radio International in Vientiane, the Laos-China Railway service has carried over 3.1 million passengers since its opening on 3 December 2021, averaging 4,889 passengers daily and recording the highest passenger count of 10,197 per day.
In 2023, so far, over 1.75 million passengers have traveled on the Laos-China Railway, up 103.7 percent from the same period in 2022.
Additionally, since the start of the cross-border train operation on 13 April 2023, a total of 61,698 passengers have traveled across the border, with an average of 201 people traveling outside the country and 190 people traveling to Laos per day.
The railway has also been an efficient transport option for trade, with over 5.38 million tons of goods being transported since it started operations, averaging 8,229 tons per day, with a maximum daily count of 15,250 tons.
The main trading items have been fruits, cassava flour, barley, rubber, beer, iron ore, concentrated iron ore, and chemical fertilizers, of which 770,900 tons were sent from China to Laos, and 4.56 million tons were exported from Laos to China.
Meanwhile, Amid a surge in passenger travel, the Laos-China Railway Company has also proposed to the Lao government to increase the price of train tickets this year, due to considerable exchange rate fluctuations and the depreciation of the Laotian Kip (LAK).
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/09/21/laos-china-railway-purchases-new-train-to-boost-passenger-travel/