Sherman meeting with Thongphan Savanphet in Vientiane on June 10, 2022. - VT
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): The United States has announced that it will provide US$45 million for field surveys and the removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos this year.
The US also said it would deliver 200,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to immunise children in Laos over the course of this year.
Visiting Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman announced the extra financial support for UXO clearance and vaccine supply to Laos when she met with senior government officials in Vientiane on Friday (June 10).
“The US$45 million provided this fiscal year is more than in any previous year,” she told Vientiane Times in an exclusive interview that took place at the American Center in Vientiane.
“This is a very important programme that we do together, because the economic development of Laos depends on clearing as much of that exploded ordnance as possible,” she said.
Deputy Secretary Sherman is visiting the Republic of Korea (ROK), the Philippines, Vietnam and Laos from June 5 to 14.
Her visit to the region reflects the United States’ continued commitment to the Indo-Pacific and follows last month’s US-Asean Special Summit, President Biden’s visit to the ROK and Japan, the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Tokyo, and the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.
In Vientiane, Sherman met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongphan Savanphet to discuss how to further strengthen cooperation after Laos and the US elevated their bilateral relations to a full comprehensive partnership in 2016.
In addition, she called on Deputy Prime Minister Prof Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune to discuss additional cooperation, with the US reaffirming its commitment to broaden cooperation and assistance for Laos as the landlocked country pursues its sustainable development goals and boosts connectivity with its Asean neighbours, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the interview with the Vientiane Times, Sherman outlined the various areas of cooperation that she had discussed with Lao government officials, ranging from unexploded ordnance to the search for the remains of US service personnel missing in action, education, economic development, English language training, business development, and the fields of energy, climate and public health.
Lao and US leaders also discussed the US-Mekong partnership, which is critical because Laos shares borders with all of the Mekong countries.
Deputy PM Prof Dr Kikeo spoke highly of the accomplishments and progress made in Laos-US cooperation under the comprehensive partnership, notably in relation to health, education, humanitarian assistance, unexploded ordnance, trade and economics.
The Deputy PM thanked the US for providing medical equipment and vaccines to support Laos’ battle against Covid-19.
