When I got off the plane, I felt that Vientiane Airport was very small, and I was about to go through the immigration formalities. The streets of Vientiane are a bit narrow, the telephone lines are a bit messy, and the city is not so neat. But every time you go there, you will really feel the changes that are taking place in Vientiane.
Laos is not big, just like China's Guangxi Province, with a small population of 6.8 million, including more than 300,000 Vietnamese and more than 200,000 China people. If you walk down the street and hear several people chatting in Chinese, you don't have to be surprised at all. If you happen to be interested in the topic they are discussing, you can also get to know a thing or two.
According to historical records, in the middle of the 6th century, Zhenla, a vassal state of Funan, overthrew the Funan dynasty and established the Kingdom of Zhenla. At the beginning of the 8th century (during the prosperous Tang Dynasty in China), Zhenla was divided into two parts. The southern part was called "Shuizhenla" (the main territory is today's Cambodia and Mekong River Delta), and the northern part was mountainous, so it was called "Luzhenla", which was the capital of Wendan City, also known as Wendan State. "Geography of New Tang Book" records "Antong Tianzhu Road (Hanoi, northern Vietnam, defended by Annan)". Lu Zhenla had a friendly relationship with China in the eighth century, and the royal family visited the Tang Dynasty.
In other words, Laos and China began to exchange friendship in the Tang Dynasty. In modern times, Laos and China established diplomatic relations from 196 1. In the mid-1970s and 1980s, the relationship between the two sides was tortuous, and friendship was not restored until 1988. From June 5th to1October 6th, 2000, Jiang Zemin, then the state leader, visited Laos for the first time, which was also the first time that a head of state of China visited Laos.
In the 1950s, Laos, which had just gained independence from French colonial rule, began to build a modern society until 1975 abolished the monarchy, the Lao Democratic Republic was established and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party came to power. From 65438 to 0988, the Lao government promulgated the Foreign Investment Law, which was called the most open investment law in the world by western economists, and encouraged the establishment of joint ventures in various fields.
In the past ten years, kip (Lao currency) has been a multiple exchange rate. In order to promote investment, Laos has established a unified kip exchange rate. Since then, Laos has started real reform and opening up. A generation later, Laos has become a member of the mainstream countries in Southeast Asia. Our story begins with 1988 reform and opening up.
Affected by China's reform and opening up in 1978, Laos began to implement its first five-year economic development plan in 1986- 1990, and the national economy grew by 7% from 19 1 to 1996. Laos joined ASEAN on 1997 and began to participate in the economic and political development of Southeast Asia.
After 1997, Laos' economy was severely impacted by the Asian financial crisis. The Lao government has taken measures such as strengthening macro-control, rectifying financial order and expanding agricultural production, and basically maintained social stability and economic stability. From 200 1 to 2007 after the financial crisis, the economy of Laos grew at an average annual rate of 6.8%.
In the 1990s, Laos began to relax restrictions on foreign travel, and people could cross the border to various provinces in Thailand as long as they showed their identification. At the same time, with the increase of foreign population and foreign tourists, Laos began to accept more foreign cultures, and foreign language bookstores quietly rose. Reconstruction of Lao National University 1996, the government hopes to promote the development of Vientiane City through education revival.
From 5 to 38 June+February, 2009, Laos hosted the 25th East Asian Games, in which Brunei, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam participated. This is the first time that Laos has stood out in front of Southeast Asian countries.
The National Development Bank of China provided US$ 6,543.8 billion in aid for the Games, and China contractors built the main stadium and related infrastructure in the suburbs of Vientiane. A company in Vietnam invested 654.38+09 million dollars to build the athletes' village, and Thailand renovated the national stadium. At the same time, it also signed a number of agreements with Japan and South Korea for training and providing sportswear.
It can be seen from this sports meeting that Laos does not exclude foreign aid, and the author is even more surprised at the ability of the Lao government to control all forces. Seeing this, it is not difficult to understand why people from so many countries can do business in Laos and live in peace.
In 20 16, the first meeting of the Eighth National Assembly of Laos adopted the Eighth Five-Year Plan (20 16-2020), the long-term plan for the next decade (20 16-2025) and the strategic concept plan for 2030. The eighth five-year plan, which was deliberated and adopted, aims at an average annual economic growth rate of not less than 7.5%, and strives to get rid of the status of least developed country in 2020. The per capita GDP will increase from US$ 65,438+0970 in 2065,438+05 to US$ 365,438+0900, and the population is expected to exceed 7 million.
Another major goal is to reduce the national poverty rate to below 65,438+00%, and strive to improve the literacy rate of the population aged 65,438+05 and above, accounting for 95% of the national total by 2020, while ensuring the extensive expansion of the medical network. The annual economic growth target set in the development strategy for the next decade is not less than 7.5%, and the poverty rate is reduced to below 5%. The long-term goal in 2030 is to achieve the status of a middle-income country.
Due to its geographical advantages, Thailand has always been the country with the largest investment in Laos. China's investment in Laos has greatly increased. According to the statistics of the Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Commerce, from 2065438 to 200810-August, China's non-financial direct investment in Laos reached 990 million US dollars, up 30.3% year-on-year, ranking second in Asia. By 2065438+August 2008, China's investment in Laos exceeded10 billion USD. In addition to traditional agriculture and forestry industries, China enterprises' investment in Laos is also expanding to emerging industries.
First, the power industry and project construction. 201165438 In February, Yunnan Power Grid Corporation and Laos State Power Corporation formally signed the EPC (General Contract) Contract of Yunnan Power Grid Corporation and Laos State Power Corporation for Northern Laos 1 15 kV Power Transmission and Transformation Project, which opened a new mode for Yunnan Power Grid Corporation to contract projects abroad.
Secondly, the field of space science and technology. 20 16 approved by the Lao prime minister's office, Laos Asia-Pacific Satellite Co., Ltd., a joint venture between China and Laos, recently signed the Laos Satellite Franchise Agreement with the Ministry of Planning and Investment. According to the agreement, Laos Asia-Pacific Satellite Co., Ltd. will carry out satellite communication, satellite TV and ground mobile communication through Laos-1 satellite, and be responsible for the commercial operation of the satellite. The Beidou satellite navigation system independently built by China has also covered the whole territory of Laos, and started to provide satellite navigation services for all walks of life in Laos.
Third, the financial sector. In 20 14, laozhong bank, a joint venture financial institution established in Laos by Fudian bank co., ltd, a provincial-level local joint-stock commercial bank in Yunnan, China, and the largest local commercial bank in Laos, Lao foreign trade public bank, was formally established. This is the first Sino-Lao joint venture bank approved by the Central Bank of Laos and the first overseas operation institution of China City Commercial Bank approved by the China Banking Regulatory Commission. Laozhong Bank was established on 20 14. At present, Laozhong Bank has carried out assets, liabilities and intermediary business in Kip, USD, RMB and Thai baht.
Fourth, the real estate sector. According to the goal of leaving the ranks of the least developed countries set by the Lao government, the increase of national income is bound to be accompanied by the rapid development of urbanization and industrialization, so real estate is expected to become a new pillar industry for Laos' national economic growth.
Laos International Development Co., Ltd. was legally registered and established in the Lao People's Democratic Republic on 201,mainly engaged in the development and management of commercial real estate. The project currently invested by the company is the World Trade Center (WTC) project located in the center of Vientiane, the capital of Laos. At present, the main part of the first phase project of160,000 square meters commercial center and 23-story serviced apartment has been completed, and the commercial center is about to be completed. The business center will hold a grand opening ceremony in April 20 19.
China-Laos Railway is a docking project between China's "Belt and Road Initiative" and Laos' strategy of "changing land-locked countries into land-connected countries". It starts from Mo Ding Port on the border between China and Laos in the north, connects China Yumo Railway in the north, and passes through Nanta, Udomsai, Luang Prabang and Vientiane Province in the south to Vientiane, the capital. This section of railway will be opened in 20021year, and will be completed by a joint venture between China and Laos.
20 15 12 Guangming daily published a report by Lao deputy prime minister song shawa on the economic impact that China-Laos Railway construction will bring to Laos. Deputy Prime Minister Song Shawa said:
Laos is not "old", and the younger generation in Laos is accepting the whole world with a more open attitude.