"The village is not only connected to water and electricity, but also much more convenient to see a doctor."

Source: People's Daily - People's Daily

Under the blue sky and white clouds, at the entrance of Ba Jing Village in Wuwai County, Luang Prabang Province, Laos, the poster with the words "Long live the friendship between China and Laos" is very eye-catching. On the hillside behind the village, a spacious and bright house has begun to take shape. In a few months, the Chinese-aided rural health center will be operational.

"The villagers are looking forward to this day!" The changes that have taken place in BaJing's village have made the village chief Xiang Hong very emotional: "In the past, the villagers were most afraid of getting sick, and even if they went to the nearest health center, they had to walk a long way. Now, the village is not only connected to water and electricity, but also much more convenient to see a doctor!"

In Wangbeng Village, Wankang County, tens of kilometers away, construction workers are building water supply projects in the village, and the laid water pipes will bring the sweet spring water from the mountains to every household. "With the support of China's aid to the construction project of rural poverty alleviation facilities in Laos, in the future, the village will set up a production team for raising chickens and cattle." The China-Laos railway is also about to open, the railway station is not far from the village, and the rural tourism plan has been written..." Gede, the village chief of Wangbeng Village, is full of expectations for the future days.

The construction project of rural poverty alleviation facilities in Laos is one of China's "eight major projects to aid Laos". The project focuses on the poor rural areas of Laos, including 100 rural lighting projects, 100 rural digital television projects, 100 rural poor areas sanitation projects and 100 rural poor area water supply projects. For villages like Bajing Village and Wangbeng Village, which are not connected to electricity, water, and medical treatment, China's aid construction projects are tailored to local conditions, and villagers will help what they urgently need.

In March this year, China and Laos overcame the impact of the epidemic and officially launched the first phase of the project, covering 30 villages in Vientiane and Luang Prabang provinces. Wang Xiong, head of the construction technology team from Yunnan Construction Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd., said that the Chinese side has set up an experienced project team and will strive to overcome difficulties, organize construction with high quality and high efficiency, and make every effort to create high-quality projects to achieve poverty alleviation demonstration effects.

Poverty reduction has been the goal of the Lao Government's efforts. Under the impetus of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism, China and Laos have made remarkable achievements in the field of poverty reduction through top-level design, pilot demonstration and regional cooperation mechanisms, and poverty reduction cooperation has been deepening.

"Poverty alleviation cooperation is also an important part and specific implementation of the community of common destiny between Laos and China." Laos Minister of State Government Kaimani Bensherna said that the Communist Party of China has united and led the Chinese people to win the battle against poverty. China's successful experience has provided practical and feasible reference for all countries in the world, especially developing countries, "I believe that Laos-China poverty alleviation cooperation will certainly make greater contributions to the sustainable development of Laos." ”

Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong said: "China and Laos are a community of common destiny that watches over each other and helps each other. We will, as always, promote China-Laos cooperation in poverty alleviation and hope that the brotherly Lao people can live a good life. ”

(Bangkok Telegraph)

People's Daily ( 2021-06-09 02 edition)