Chinese Government provides RMB 300 million grant for Lighting Project for Central Urban Area of ​​Vientiane

Project narrative

On December 6, 2019, the Chinese Government and the Government of Laos signed a feasibility study agreement for the Lighting Project for the Central Urban Area of Vientiane. China’s Ministry of Commerce subsequently issued an RMB 300 million grant to the Government of Laos to support the implementation of this project. The project involved the upgrading and installation of a fountain system and closed-circuit television cameras at Patuxay Park, the installation of street lights and CCTV cameras on seven main roads of the capital city -- namely, Lane Xang Avenue, 23 Singha Road, Nong Bon Road, Kaysone Phomvihane Road, Setthathirath-Mekong Riverside Road, Mekong Riverside Road and Chao Fa Ngum Road. Street lighting was to be upgraded on Kaysone Phomvihane road from the Patuxay Monument to Donnoune roundabout, Kampheng Meuang road from Hongseng Bridge to Nonghai roundabout, Thadeua Road from Simueng Temple to the Chinaimo roundabout, and ASEAN Road from Arkard intersection to 23 Singha road, as well as from Km 6 traffic lights to the National Television roundabout. Power cables for the new streetlights were also to be laid underground along Lane Xang Avenue, 23 Singha Road, Nongbone Road, and Kaysone Phomvihane Road. Additionally, the project involved the installation of a traffic light control system. Yanjian Group was the general (EPC) contractor responsible for implementation. Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision Co., Ltd. and China Railway Design Group Co., Ltd. were responsible for project design and supervision. MOFCOM initiated a bidding process for the project in June 2020. It selected Yanjian Group as the EPC contractor on June 11, 2020. Project implementation commenced on September 11, 2020. However, an official project completion ceremony did not take place until November 27, 2020. A project handover ceremony took place on March 26, 2021. The ceremony was attended by Vientiane mayor Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong and other high ranking officials from Laos and China. Vientiane Vice Mayor Atsaphangthong Siphandone expressed thanks and gratitude to the Chinese government and people for their generous assistance to Vientiane adding that such assistance has contributed to developing Vientiane as a livable and sustainable city in line with its six-word slogan of being clean, illuminative, peaceful, green, civilized and charming. The project was originally expected to reach completion by the end of February 2021.