On 26 February, Laos launched the Lao-China 500-kilovolt Interconnection Project with a ceremony in Vientiane Capital. This project is part of a broader effort to enhance regional energy integration.
Phoxay Sayasone, Laos’ Minister of Energy and Mines, explained that the system will connect Laos’ power grid with neighboring countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and China.
Expected to be completed by 2026, the interconnection will allow power transmission to begin that year. Once operational, it will facilitate the exchange of 1,500 megawatts of electricity between Laos and China, along with the transmission of around 3 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, boosting the energy sector in both countries.
The initiative is a key element of Laos’ five-year strategic energy development plan (2021-2025), which seeks to strengthen the country’s economic potential. The connection with China will help Laos systematically develop its energy resources and establish a reliable energy exchange.
The system will include a new 500-kilovolt substation in Namor district, Oudomxay Province, linking to Xishuangbanna in Yunnan, China, via a 183.5 km cross-border transmission line. Additionally, two 230-kilovolt lines will connect to the main line in northern Laos.
Divided into two phases, the first phase will be developed by Electricité du Laos Transmission (EDL-T), while the second phase will be handled by CSG.
Once fully operational, Laos is expected to become a clean energy hub within the Lancang-Mekong region, linking and distributing electricity across neighboring countries.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Laotian-Times-Feature-Image.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2025-03-17 01:04:002025-03-11 09:06:11Laos, China 500kV Link to Drive Clean Energy Growth and ASEAN Connectivity
Xieng Khouang Province is set to improve access to clean water with support from the Japanese government, which has provided a grant of USD 67,900 for a water supply project under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the project was signed on 25 February by Chandy Navixay, a senior provincial official, and Koizumi Tsutomu, the Japanese Ambassador to Laos.
The initiative will be implemented in Xong village, Phoukoud district, to provide residents with access to clean and sanitized water through a new water supply facility. This project aims to reduce household expenses on drinking water by improving access to treated water.
GGP is part of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) program, which supports economic development, human security, and sustainable growth in developing countries.
In addition to the clean water project, Japan also signed an agreement on the same day to support education in Laos by funding the improvement of teacher training centers in nine provinces: Huaphan, Borikhamxay, Bokeo, Xayaboury, Khammuan, Phongsaly, Xekong, Oudomxay, and Attapeu.
With a total budget of over USD 8.2 million, the project aims to enhance educator training and raise education standards, with completion expected by 2028.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-1.gif450800Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2025-03-14 01:02:002025-03-11 09:03:55Japan Aids Xieng Khouang with Clean Water Supply Grant
The beloved German children’s classic Emil and the Detectives, written by renowned author Erich Kästner, has now been translated into Lao.
The launch event for this translated version took place at the German Embassy in Vientiane on 26 February.
Originally published in 1929, Emil and the Detectives marked a shift in German literary style and has since become a fundamental piece of children’s literature, praised for its emphasis on empowerment, self-confidence, and courage.
The story features a group of resourceful children who take matters into their own hands to solve a mystery, proving that even the youngest can act with determination and shape their own destinies.
But translating this classic into Lao was no simple task, as noted by the translator, Ousavanh Thiengthepvongsa. The book is rich with slang and everyday language from 1920s Berlin, which presented a unique translation challenge.
Ousavanh studied in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) and spent many years living in Germany, Ousavanh brought together a deep understanding of both German literature and Lao culture to this project.
He teamed up with Sonekham Seankhamta, an editor from the German Department at the National University of Laos (NUOL), and together they worked to ensure the language stayed true to the original while also making it relatable and accessible for young Lao readers.
The process of adapting the book’s historical, cultural, and linguistic elements to the Lao context required an in-depth understanding of both the original text and the target language.
German classic Emil and the Detectives was translated into Lao. Launch day at the German Embassy in Vientiane.
“It was a challenge to translate the book word by word, striving to preserve its original meaning while ensuring that Lao readers could fully understand the true essence of the story,” said Ousavanh. “We wanted to ensure that the Lao readers could relate to the themes of courage and adventure, just as children in Germany have for decades.”
Erich Kästner, the author of the book, was born in Dresden in 1899 and is considered one of the most important German writers of the 20th century. Despite his popularity, Kästner’s books were publicly burnt by the Nazis in 1933, and the author was banned from writing. However, his legacy endures to this day with Emil and the Detectives.
The Lao version of Emil and the Detectives was published by the German charity association Books for Laos e.V., with support from the German Embassy in Laos and the Georg Kraus Foundation. This project is the result of a collaborative effort between the German Embassy, the NUOL, Books for Laos, and the grassroots literacy initiative Reading Elephant Laos, which has been supporting educational projects in Bokeo Province since 2017.
The first edition of the Lao translation comprises 600 copies, which will be distributed free of charge to schools, libraries, and reading projects in Laos.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Children-reading-excerpts-of-Emil-and-the-Detectives.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2025-03-13 01:59:002025-03-11 09:02:05German Children’s Classic ‘Emil and the Detectives’ Translated into Lao
Laos, China 500kV Link to Drive Clean Energy Growth and ASEAN Connectivity
On 26 February, Laos launched the Lao-China 500-kilovolt Interconnection Project with a ceremony in Vientiane Capital. This project is part of a broader effort to enhance regional energy integration.
Phoxay Sayasone, Laos’ Minister of Energy and Mines, explained that the system will connect Laos’ power grid with neighboring countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and China.
Expected to be completed by 2026, the interconnection will allow power transmission to begin that year. Once operational, it will facilitate the exchange of 1,500 megawatts of electricity between Laos and China, along with the transmission of around 3 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, boosting the energy sector in both countries.
The initiative is a key element of Laos’ five-year strategic energy development plan (2021-2025), which seeks to strengthen the country’s economic potential. The connection with China will help Laos systematically develop its energy resources and establish a reliable energy exchange.
The system will include a new 500-kilovolt substation in Namor district, Oudomxay Province, linking to Xishuangbanna in Yunnan, China, via a 183.5 km cross-border transmission line. Additionally, two 230-kilovolt lines will connect to the main line in northern Laos.
Divided into two phases, the first phase will be developed by Electricité du Laos Transmission (EDL-T), while the second phase will be handled by CSG.
Once fully operational, Laos is expected to become a clean energy hub within the Lancang-Mekong region, linking and distributing electricity across neighboring countries.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/02/28/laos-china-500kv-link-to-drive-clean-energy-growth-and-asean-connectivity/
Japan Aids Xieng Khouang with Clean Water Supply Grant
Xieng Khouang Province is set to improve access to clean water with support from the Japanese government, which has provided a grant of USD 67,900 for a water supply project under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the project was signed on 25 February by Chandy Navixay, a senior provincial official, and Koizumi Tsutomu, the Japanese Ambassador to Laos.
The initiative will be implemented in Xong village, Phoukoud district, to provide residents with access to clean and sanitized water through a new water supply facility. This project aims to reduce household expenses on drinking water by improving access to treated water.
GGP is part of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) program, which supports economic development, human security, and sustainable growth in developing countries.
In addition to the clean water project, Japan also signed an agreement on the same day to support education in Laos by funding the improvement of teacher training centers in nine provinces: Huaphan, Borikhamxay, Bokeo, Xayaboury, Khammuan, Phongsaly, Xekong, Oudomxay, and Attapeu.
With a total budget of over USD 8.2 million, the project aims to enhance educator training and raise education standards, with completion expected by 2028.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/02/27/japan-aids-xieng-khouang-with-clean-water-supply-grant/
German Children’s Classic ‘Emil and the Detectives’ Translated into Lao
The beloved German children’s classic Emil and the Detectives, written by renowned author Erich Kästner, has now been translated into Lao.
The launch event for this translated version took place at the German Embassy in Vientiane on 26 February.
Originally published in 1929, Emil and the Detectives marked a shift in German literary style and has since become a fundamental piece of children’s literature, praised for its emphasis on empowerment, self-confidence, and courage.
The story features a group of resourceful children who take matters into their own hands to solve a mystery, proving that even the youngest can act with determination and shape their own destinies.
But translating this classic into Lao was no simple task, as noted by the translator, Ousavanh Thiengthepvongsa. The book is rich with slang and everyday language from 1920s Berlin, which presented a unique translation challenge.
Ousavanh studied in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) and spent many years living in Germany, Ousavanh brought together a deep understanding of both German literature and Lao culture to this project.
He teamed up with Sonekham Seankhamta, an editor from the German Department at the National University of Laos (NUOL), and together they worked to ensure the language stayed true to the original while also making it relatable and accessible for young Lao readers.
The process of adapting the book’s historical, cultural, and linguistic elements to the Lao context required an in-depth understanding of both the original text and the target language.
“It was a challenge to translate the book word by word, striving to preserve its original meaning while ensuring that Lao readers could fully understand the true essence of the story,” said Ousavanh. “We wanted to ensure that the Lao readers could relate to the themes of courage and adventure, just as children in Germany have for decades.”
Erich Kästner, the author of the book, was born in Dresden in 1899 and is considered one of the most important German writers of the 20th century. Despite his popularity, Kästner’s books were publicly burnt by the Nazis in 1933, and the author was banned from writing. However, his legacy endures to this day with Emil and the Detectives.
The Lao version of Emil and the Detectives was published by the German charity association Books for Laos e.V., with support from the German Embassy in Laos and the Georg Kraus Foundation. This project is the result of a collaborative effort between the German Embassy, the NUOL, Books for Laos, and the grassroots literacy initiative Reading Elephant Laos, which has been supporting educational projects in Bokeo Province since 2017.
The first edition of the Lao translation comprises 600 copies, which will be distributed free of charge to schools, libraries, and reading projects in Laos.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/02/27/german-childrens-classic-emil-and-the-detectives-translated-into-lao/