International events: The Russian Center of Science and Culture opens in Laos

October 10, 2013 is planned the grand opening of the Russian Center of Science and Culture in the capital of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic – Vientiane – in the presence of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Kabanov O. V.  

The center will focus on the implementation of programs of bilateral cultural, scientific-technical and information cooperation, the support of Russian compatriots living in Laos, the promotion of the study of the Russian language and the promotion of the Russian culture, the establishment and development of partnership relationships between cities and regions of Russia and Laos.

April 27, 2013 in Moscow the leader of Rossotrudnichestvo Konstantin Kosachev and the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Khemmani Pholsen signed an agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on the establishment and activity of information and cultural centers. The event was held within the framework of the IX meeting of Intergovernmental Russian-Lao commission on trade-economic and scientific-technical cooperation.

According to Konstantin Kosachev, “the signing of the Agreement is an important event in the life of two countries and will undoubtedly go down in the history of bilateral relations between Russia and Laos”. “I am confident that the Russian Center of Science and Culture which will be open in Vientiane, will contribute to the further development of humanitarian ties between our countries”, - he added. 

Prior to 1998 in Vientiane functioned the Russian (formerly Soviet) Cultural Center, which was closed due to lack of funding. The teaching of the Russian language in Laos was organized at the Russian language courses at RCC and existed on the basis of the elementary school “Mittaphap” (it taught Russian and English languages). At RCSC were existed library and video library, where Laos’s residents could learn about Russian literature and periodicals, as well as watch Russian films and TV programs. Following the decision to close the RCC and schools in 1998 these two important centers of the study of Russian language have been lost.