SABAIDEE. BLOG

During the 2nd Ordinary Session of the 10th National Assembly on October 5, 2026, Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith outlined the Lao government's core economic priorities for the final quarter of the year. Key action items include: Agricultural Recovery & Production: Boosting dry-season crop cultivation to offset recent flood damage; restoring irrigation systems; and supplying seeds, livestock, and fertilizers to farmers. Infrastructure Repair & Acceleration: Repairing flood-damaged roads, particularly key trade corridors, national highways, and routes leading to agricultural and tourism hubs. Accelerating major approved infrastructure projects, including the Vientiane–Boten Expressway, the Paksane–Laos-Vietnam Border Expressway, and the Thakhek–Laos-Vietnam Border Railway. Mining & Industry Regulation: Monitoring mineral production and exports, while promoting domestic processing of key resources such as gold, copper, potash, and bauxite. Tourism Promotion: Enhanc...

  Beat the Heat: Vientiane’s Innovation with its First Smart Road Infrastructure As urban temperatures rise across Southeast Asia, Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is taking steps toward climate-resilient urban infrastructure. The city is putting the finishing touches on its first Smart Road Cleaning and Cooling Pilot Project . This initiative combines automated thermal management with pollution reduction to transform urban mobility in the capital. Key Project Overview Details Description Official Name Vientiane Smart Road Cleaning & Cooling Pilot Project Construction Start March 2026 Target Completion October 2026 (to begin a 30-day trial period) Primary Funding 100% Grant Funding provided by the Government of South Korea Key Tech Heat sensors, PM2.5/PM10 air quality monitoring, embedded mist-spray nozzles Why Was the Smart Road Built? Vientiane experiences intense heat waves, with asphalt surface temperatures often far exceeding ambient air levels. The reasons for intro...

  China Establishes New Joint Military Support Base in Laos BEIJING / VIENTIANE — China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has expanded its overseas footprint into Southeast Asia with a new joint air force support and training facility in Laos. The site, named the China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center , is Beijing's third major foreign military installation, joining outposts in Djibouti (2017) and Cambodia's Ream Naval Base (2025). Facility & Capabilities Located near Ban Keun—approximately 64 kilometers north of Vientiane—construction began in late 2025 on former farmland near a historic Vietnam War-era airstrip (Lima Site 44). By late 2026, satellite imagery confirmed a fully operational facility featuring a ~2,000-meter (6,562 ft) runway , hangars, and logistical barracks. Core Objectives & Strategic Impact Pilot Training & Aviation Support: Hands-on flight instruction, ground handling, and modern maintenance for the Lao People's Army Air Force...