The “Lecture Series“ project of the American Embassy
in Laos is one of many programs that the Embassy undertakes to try to expand
and broaden the relationship between the United States of America and Laos. In
addition to providing diplomacy between the two countries, the Embassy also
helps many projects to better the quality of lives of the Lao people.
The Lecture Series bring specialists or experts from
the United States to Laos to give lectures on various interesting and helpful topics.
This year, a Lao-Hmong American, Mr. Blong Xiong, Chairmen of the City Council of
Fresno, California, was invited to discuss the role of local governments in the
U.S. and his responsibilities as a councilman. In an interview with VOA, Mr. Blong
Xiong expressed his thanks to the American Ambassador and his staff to make
this process possible,
“First of all, I’d really like to thank the Embassy,
Ambassador Huso, Amy and the staff, and the Foreign Ministry of the Lao
government as well as the Lao Ambassador here and staff for putting this
through. I am very happy to have this opportunity to go to Laos and share my
experience and responsibilities. I’ve always
wanted to do this at a personal level, and now I got a chance to do it.”
Mr. Blong
Xiong will be lecturing in different parts of Laos, sharing his works and experiences
in planning, budgeting, developing and public participation in local
governments. The Lecture Series is to take place from November 17-21. The
Fresno Council chairman says this will be a great learning experience for him. He
hopes to make his lecture and presentation interesting and interactive as much
as possible.
“This is one of many steps that help build a good
relationship between the two communities and two countries, Laos and the United
Sates. As we have discussed earlier, many Lao-Americans long to go back to their
homeland. So do my parents. They want to
go back, and are ready to go back,” Blong Xiong concluded.
Listen to audio files for the whole interview with
Blong Xiong.
