British Embassy team visits Northern provinces
British Ambassador to Lao PDR, H.E Philip Malone and his team visited Oudomxay and Phongsaly provinces.
Ambassador Philip Malone with Project Officer Moukdavanh Sysouphanthavong and Phongsaly's Vice Governor Pheng Lilavong on Phoufa Mountain above Phongsaly town
British Ambassador to Lao PDR, H.E Philip Malone and his team visited Oudomxay and Phongsaly provinces this week to build links with provincial officials and further build their knowledge of different areas of Lao PDR.
On his first official visit to Oudomxay and Phongsaly, British Ambassador Philip Malone met provincial authority leaders of Phongsaly and Oudomxay provinces to discuss socio-economic development and possibilities of future cooperation.
Deputy Head of Mission Alex Needham inspected the Lao Biodiversity Association’s activities in Phongsaly’s Gnot Ou district, where the Association is running a justice system enforcement project supported by the British Embassy. The project focuses on capacity building of justice sector government officials.
This visit is the British Embassy’s fourth provincial visit after taking in Xieng Khouang, Luang Prabang and Champassak provinces last year. Re-established in 2012 after a hiatus of almost 30 years, the British diplomatic presence in Laos aims to establish good working relationships through personal visits to all parts of the country, and develop UK-Lao co-operation in areas of mutual interest. In Phongsaly and Oudomxay provinces, the Ambassador was particularly interested to learn more about the ethnic diversity of the Lao PDR and the development challenges northern provinces continue to face.