Laos calls for tourism investment to tap into new World Heritage
Lao province calls for tourism investment to tap into new World Heritage
Mayor of Xieng Khuang province, Laos, Bounton Chanthaphone has called for both domestic and foreign investors to develop tourism in the province to tap into the Plain of Jars, which was named a World Heritage site by UNESCO earlier this month.
A view of the Plain of Jars, which is named a World Heritage site by UNESCO. (Photo: VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) – Mayor of Xieng Khuangprovince, Laos, Bounton Chanthaphone has called for both domestic and foreigninvestors to develop tourism in the province to tap into the Plain of Jars,which was named a World Heritage site by UNESCO earlier this month.
Xieng Khuang also plans to educate the locals on thevalue of the Plain of Jars and how to together preserve the megalithicarchaeological landscape, Chanthaphone told a news conference held by theMinistry of Information, Culture and Tourism in Vientiane on July 25 toannounce the UNESCO recognition.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee declared the Plain ofJars as a World Heritage site on July 6 during its 43rd session which tookplace in Baku, the capital city of the Republic of Azerbaijan from June 30 –July 10.
Laos had made many efforts over the last 20 years toconduct field surveys and complete nomination applications to submit to theUNESCO World Heritage Committee for the Plain of Jars to achieve the status,according to the minister.
He thanked countries and international experts who havesupported Laos in this two-decade process.
The Plain of Jars, located in Xieng Khuang Plateau, northeastern Laos, gets its name from more than 2,100tubular-shaped megalithic stone jars used for funerary practices in the IronAge, according to UNESCO.
This serial site of 15 components contains largecarved stone jars, stone discs, secondary burials, tombstones, quarries andfunerary objects dating from 500 BCE to 500 CE. The jars and associatedelements are the most prominent evidence of the Iron Age civilisation that madeand used them until it disappeared, around 500 CE.
It is Laos’ third World Heritage after the old Town of Luang Prabang, inscribed in 1995, followed by Vat Phou andAssociated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape in 2001.–VNA
An arts programme was held at the Vietnam-Laos international cemetery in Anh Son district, central Nghe An province, on January 21 to mark 70 years of the two countries’ combat alliance.
The Plain of Jars, a megalithic archaeological landscape in Xiangkhoang Plateau, northeastern Laos, has been named as a new World Heritage site by UNESCO.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
A view of the Plain of Jars, which is named a World Heritage site by UNESCO. (Photo: VNA)
