Govt reiterates stance on global Lao family
The government has reaffirmed its policy to facilitate the return of people of Lao origin living abroad so they can contribute their expertise and experience, as well as finances, to the development of their birth nation.
Dr Thongloun Sisoulith chairs the meeting in Vientiane on Wednesday.
Government officials met in Vientiane yesterday to review the past six months' implementation of activities related to people of Lao origin living abroad and set plans for the next six months.
Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, the meeting also discussed a draft strategic plan for 2011-15 to facilitate the return of overseas ethnic Lao so they can take part in development activities.
The meeting agreed to propose that the government considers setting up specific policies related to border crossings, visits to relatives in Laos, land rights and marriage, as they relate to returning overseas ethnic Lao.
The government will soon issue a decree related to permanent residency in Laos for this group in an effort to encourage more people to return.
Dr Thongloun expressed appreciation to the relevant officials for their efforts in ensuring that overseas ethnic Lao have a better understanding of the reality of the development process, and the role and reputation of Laos in the regional and international arenas.
He said strengthening relations with people of Lao origin living abroad was very important at the present time and urged the relevant sectors to bolster their collaboration and cooperation to realise the country's five-year development strategy.
The Party's policy states that it regards overseas ethnic Lao as members of the national family and welcomes those who want to come back to work with Lao citizens towards the development of the country.
Last year, some 200 overseas ethnic Lao were invited to attend the celebration to mark the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as the capital, and many expressed pride after witnessing the positive changes in the country over the past 35 years.
An estimated 700,000 people of Lao origin now live abroad, mostly in the United States, Canada, France, Australia and New Zealand. Many of them left Laos after 1975.
About 80 percent of them are citizens of the country in which they now live.
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