(KPL) A reception for scholars and senior fellows of the “Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid (JDS)” and the “Young Leaders Programme (YLP)” was held at the residence of the Ambassador of Japan in Vientiane on August 1.

The reception aimed to congratulate and encourage the students travelling to Japan, wishing them success in their academic and career development.

The departing students are supported by the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid (JDS) or the Young Leaders Programme (YLP), both funded by the Government of Japan.

Open to Lao government officials engaged in socio-economic development, JDS grants scholarships for two-year master’s degrees and three-year doctoral degrees in Japan. More than 500 Lao officials have been granted scholarships since the programme commenced in 1999.

Meanwhile, YLP aims to foster junior government officials into becoming future national leaders. Since 2001, when the programme started, around 70 Lao government officials have benefited from the programme, which offers one-year scholarships to study for a master’s degree in one of five fields: government, local governance, business administration, law, and healthcare administration.

At the reception, Ambassador Koizumi congratulated the departing students and encouraged them to make the most of this opportunity to develop themselves while studying in new surroundings.

“This year, the Lao PDR is playing an essential role as the ASEAN chair. And next year, 2025, is also a commemorative year for Japan and Laos, marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries. At such an important juncture, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Ms. Kamikawa Yoko, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Saleumsay Kommasith, agreed last week to push this partnership to new heights,” Ambassador Koizumi said.

“I would be happy if you could share with the Lao people, after the completion of your study programme, the charms of Japan that you will have experienced, and sincerely hope you will make the best use of the knowledge and experience acquired in Japan to serve as a bridge between our two countries in your respective future careers,” he continued.

On behalf of the departing students, Mr. Bounsy Sizanone, an official from the Ministry of Public Security who will study the prevention of drug trafficking at Kyushu University, and Ms. Sengdavy Xaypadith, an official from the Ministry of Health, who will study at Nagoya University, expressed their appreciation to the Government of Japan and reaffirmed their strong will for academic achievement.

The reception was attended by numerous Lao government officials including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phout Simmalavong, Minister of Education and Sports and President of the Lao-Japan Friendship Association, and Dr. Bounfeng Phounmmalaysith, Minister of Health. Also attending were Vice Ministers, Director Generals, Deputy Director Generals, senior fellows, and other successful examples from among the many previous graduates from Japanese universities under these schemes.

KPL