Norway established diplomatic relations with Lao PDR in November 1991, and since then, bilateral ties have grown stronger in a number of fields. Currently, Norwegian development assistance is on civil society, water and sanitation and the environment; in addition to energy, where hydropower opens many opportunities for further cooperation between the two countries.
Norway and Lao PDR also have a strong partnership in connection to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, where Lao PDR has – as one of the world’s most affected countries – been in the forefront. During the Indochina war Lao PDR experienced the heaviest aerial bombardment in history which left millions of unexploded cluster bombs that still litter the country’s soil. Norwegian People’s Aid have been active within the mine clearance sector in Lao PDR for several years.
Ambassador Risa signed a new cooperative deal with the Lao government on a Norad funded water supply and sanitation sector project that will run until 2015. Photo: Zenia ChrysostomidisThe Norwegian Ambassador, Mr. Ståle T. Risa, highlighted in particular this aspect in his speech during the reception to mark the 20 year jubilee. The reception was held at the Visitor’s Centre of the Prosthetic Enterprise and Orthotic Cooperative (COPE), where visitors are shown examples of what undetonated bombs and mines have done to many Laotians. The Ambassador expressed Norway’s deep appreciation of the leadership Lao PDR has shown and continues to show in the Convention process, not only by hosting the Convention’s First Meeting of States Parties in Vientiane in November 2010, but also in the continued efforts to strengthen the Convention. He emphasized that the COPE Visitor’s Centre provided a dignified and emotional context for highlighting the special Lao-Norwegian relationship on this issue, as the individual histories of victims of unexploded ordnances on display in the centre represented the human face of the consequences of cluster munitions.
The Ambassador warmly thanked Lao government representatives who had joined in the celebration, and extended his thanks to the Norwegian honorary consul, Mr. Henrik Schmith, and staff at COPE for their help in organizing the event at the centre.