China, Laos perform convention centre handover

China, Laos perform convention centre handover

By Soukthavy

The Government of China officially handed over the National Convention Centre to the government of the Lao PDR yesterday morning, prior to the opening of the 9 th ASEM Summit.

The construction of the state-of-the-art conference centre was funded by the Chinese government, which has provided various assistance to Laos in recent times as the country prepared to host the summit.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong performed the handover ceremony for the National Convention Centre in the witness of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongloun Sisoulith, and the Chinese Ambassador to Laos Bu Jiangua.

The National Convention Centre building itself covers an area of 24,899 square metres on a seven-hectare site at Km 6 on Kaysone Phomvihane Road.

It cost around 450 million yuan (US$80 million) to build, with the construction overseen by CAMCE Investment (Lao) Co Ltd, a joint venture between the Chinese state-owned enterprise CAMCE Engineering and the Lao Krittaphong Group .

KPL.NET.LA