The Thai-Lao cooperation projects according to His Majesty the King’s and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s royal initiatives once again showed their success of being “models” for integrated development under the cordial cooperation between the two countries to the eyes of a delegation of Diplomatic Corps in Lao People’s Democratic Republic on their official visits to the Huai Sonn - Huai Soie Agricultural Development and Service Center Project (kilometer 22) and the Vientiane Culture School (kilometer 67) on June 13, 2002. The delegation, guided by H.E. Mr. Suvidhya Simaskul, Thai Ambassador to Lao PDR, consisted of H.E. Mr. Itsuo Hashimoto, Japanese Ambassador;

Thai Ambassador to Lao PDR donating a computer printer to the Vientiane Culture School for further use.

H. E. Mrs. Seetch Hoy Cheng, Singaporean Ambassador; H.E. Mr. Dirk Heuts, Advisor to the Belgian Ambassador; and Mr. Nishiwaki Hidetaka, Head of JICA Office in Lao PDR.

     At the Vientiane Culture School, the delegation was welcomed by Mr. Khumwaii Thongtheemahasai, School’s Director, who gave a briefing on the implementation of the School’s activities. They were then led to different sites to observe the activities undertaken at the School such as the pigs’ sty, the fish pond, and the school library. On this occasion, H.E. Mr. Suvidhya Simaskul, Thai Ambassador to Lao PDR, kindly donated a computer printer to the school for further use.

     At the Huai Sonn - Huai Soie Agricultural Development and Service Center, Mr. Chanta Thaipha-wongpan, Director of the Center, welcomed and briefed the delegation on the project’s activities. After the briefing, the delegation proceeded to observe the activities at various sites such as the agricultural demonstration plot and Huai Sonn Reservoir, and met with the family of the model farmers.

     The delegation was quite interested in and impressed by the success of these two projects in uplifting the people’s quality of life and strengthening the firm relationship between Thai and Lao PDR. They particularly appreciated the achievements of the Huai Sonn - Huai Soie Agricultural Development and Service Center Project which helped to increase the people’s income from originally 6,900 baht /household/ year (1.5 millions kip) to 56,000 baht/household/ year (12 millions kip).

     The royal initiatives which His Majesty the King and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously granted to this neighboring country regardless of a difference in nationality ignited a “thought” among the world society to recognize the value of mutual help and interdependence without discrimination in politics, economy, society, religion or culture. Such “model” of cooperation now exists in the Southeast Asian Region.

The Vientiane Culture School’s students in their unique uniforms.