The Ministry of Public Works and Transport plans to build four more bridges across the Mekong by 2010, according to a senior ministry official.

The Deputy Director General of the Bridge and Road Department, Mr Phan Phouthavong, said on Friday that the ministry's party committee, which held its congress in November, had agreed to the plan.

Two are set to span the border between Laos and Thailand and the others will cross the Mekong in Xayaboury province, he said....more info

He said the first bridge would link Thakhek district in Khammuan province and Nakhon Phanom in Thailand . The funding would come from the Thai government and a feasibility study was almost complete, with construction set to begin by the end of the year.

The second bridge would link Thadeua district in Xayaboury province and Pakkhone district in Luang Prabang province. A Korean bank has agreed to provide a low interest loan to the Lao government to build the bridge, according to Mr Phan.

Officials were still analysing the cost of the bridge, but he confirmed that the government wanted to start construction at the end of this year. The bridge will be two lanes wide and of similar design to those in Champassak province.

Mr Phan said the government was also negotiating funding to link Huayxai district in Bokeo province with Chiang Khong in Thailand . This project will be part of the superhighway connecting Bangkok , Thailand , with Kunming , China .

Negotiations between Lao, Thai and Chinese officials would take a while so he could not say when the project would begin. However, he said the ministry would do its best to have it finished by 2010.

The fourth bridge will connect Sanakham district in Vientiane province with Paklai district in Xayaboury province. Mr Phan said the government was currently seeking funds from international sources.

He said the ministry's party committee had agreed to try to bridge all major river crossings in Laos by 2010 to ensure easier transportation within the country. But he said this plan could be fulfilled only with the cooperation of all sectors and funding sources.

“This is our plan, but its success depends mainly on getting the necessary funding.”

The construction of the new bridges is part of government efforts to turn Laos from a landlocked to a land-linked country. Mr Phan said that people in Xayaboury province in particular would benefit from a bridge because it would give them greater access to markets for the sale of their produce.

The bridges will also be a great benefit to tourism development as tourists will have more options when travelling to and through Laos.

By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
Vientianetimes

The magazine “Khouan Chay” finally released into Lao society. This is a monthly magazine which publish more than three thousand copies per month in Lao language format.

The main target of this magazine is for young people and addressed the issue in general, such as leisure time, art of living, entertainment, models, etc...

You are all welcome to try this magazine. More photos

University of Health and Science to be set up

(KPL) The current Faculty of Medical Science will develop into the University of Health and Science.

The announcement was made by the Ministry of Public Health following the signing of an agreement on the transfer of the Medical Science Faculty, National University of Laos, to the Ministry of Public Health this week between Education Minister Prof. Dr Somkot Mangnormek and Public Health Minister Ponmek Dalaloy.

The emerging university will provide a broader curriculum in medicine, dentistry, nursing and laboratory practices, as well as other health and science majors.

Before the transfer, the Ministry of Public Health, the Faculty of Medical Science had been under the management of the National University of Laos for 11 years.

Deputy Prime Minister Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, and representatives of relevant authorities witnessed the transfer ceremony.

Source: kpl.net

(KPL) A new edition of modified Lao dictionary was just officially approved by Ministry of Education, to respond social demand after lacking an officially Lao dictionary for years.

The new Lao dictionary for 2549 B.C (Buddhist Calendar) has been published more than 10,000 copies for public use officially.

The dictionary was displayed at an exhibition for celebrating this new publishing at the Public Library at the end of April, which was the third issue, pioneered by Maha Sila Viravong... read more

This dictionary consists of 10,000 words and grammar, which was collected and composed by Maha Sila Viravong. Most of vocabularies are collected from philosophies, religious and literature and some mistakes have been adjusted and were copied from the original copy.

The special character of this book was to maintain old style spelling based on religious, Bali and Sanskrit languages.

In 1951, the Ministry of Education has appointed the Literature Committee to do a Lao dictionary to serve education work and then the Committee assigned Maha Sila Viravong to edit and collect words.
The collection of Maha Sila Viravong has been conduct till 1954 to 1959, his mission seeing that has had enough words considerably and then the first master dictionary of Laos was issued.

In order to be a reference for this dictionary since 1951, he also composed grammar consists of four chapters, which had had completed by 1961.
The new copies are now being availed at libraries for research and study and distribute for people who interested to learn Lao language.

Source: kpl.net.la