The government of Japan on Friday presented around 123 trillion kip (1.6 billion yen) to the Lao government for non-project grant aid and the construction of a Lao-Japan Budo Centre in Vientiane.

The Japanese Ambassador to Laos , Mr Makoto Katsura, signed the exchange of notes with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Bounkeut Sangsomsak, at his ministry, at a signing ceremony attended by both officials.

“We are providing 1.2 billion yen as non-project grant aid to enable the Lao government to import indispensable materials such as fuel and iron, and to make use of the counterpart fund acquired by the sale of these materials to accelerate its efforts for socio-economic development and poverty reduction,” Mr Katsura said.

“We are also giving 400 million yen to build a budo centre to promote cultural exchange and friendship between Laos and Japan . The centre will also be used for the Southeast Asian Games to be hosted by Laos in 2009.”

He said the centre would be a way of familiarising Lao people with various forms of budo, including judo, karatedo and aikido, which were deeply rooted in traditional Japanese culture.

The project would enable practitioners of these martial sports to practise in more appropriate conditions, promote the teaching of these sports in Laos , and boost standards, he said.

“Both projects are essential factors for developing the nation. Furthermore, I think that a combination of these two different types of assistance will have a synergistic effect,” said Mr Katsura.

“We can confirm that these two grant aid projects will be used effectively in accordance with the objectives of the government and the Japanese people,” said the Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Bounkeut Sangsomsak.

By Panyasith Thammavongsa
vientianetimes