France assists Laos in rehabilitating world heritage site

France has pledged to offer Laos 1 million euro (nearly 1.2 million U.S. dollars) to improve the world heritage site of Vat Phou in the next three years.

The fund will be used to conduct a field study into how best to improve the site for tourism, upgrade infrastructure, and train people in charge of conserving and managing the Vat Phou Temple, a world heritage recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported Friday.

Earlier, France helped Laos rehabilitate the ancient capital of Luang Prabang, a world cultural heritage also recognized by the UNESCO.

The Vat Phou Temple in northern Champassak province is of great spiritual significance, since its structures and items displayed there express intense religious conviction and commitment, the report said.

Source: Xinhua