Laos and China held a signing ceremony for an agreement to begin implementation of the China-aided Mahosot hospital project in Vientiane, Laos, on March 9.
During his state visit to Laos in November 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the foundation-laying ceremony for the China-built hospital in the Lao capital along with Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit.
Economic and commercial counselor of Chinese embassy in Laos Wang Qihui and General Director of the Office of Lao Health Ministry Nao Boutta signed the agreement on behalf of the Chinese and Lao governments, respectively.
“I hope this project will help the Lao government provide modernized medical services to the people, so they will no longer seek treatment in neighboring countries,” Deputy Health Minister Phouthone Meuangpak said at the ceremony.
“Mahosot hospital project is the most important project in the two countries cooperation in the health sector,” opined Wang Qihui. “I believe that through the cooperation, both sides will help make this project a success and it will provide the medical services to the Lao people in the near future."
The health project with Chinese assistance includes the expansion of the existing Mahosot Hospital in Vientiane and construction of new medical facilities including a new 600-bed large-scale general hospital with construction area of approximately 54,000 square meters.
As a landmark project in China-Laos cooperation in public welfare, the new hospital is expected to be open in 2021.