U.S. second lady offers education support to Laos in first White House visit

Education and global women's issues were on the agenda as Jill Biden, wife of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, arrived in the Lao capital Tuesday on a two- day visit to the Southeast Asian nation, the first by a current representative from the White House.

The results -- a 27-million-U.S. dollar school meals program and related educational support programs -- are set to dominate discussions with Lao Deputy Prime Minister Phankham Viphavan set for Wednesday.

Joined by U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women Issues Catherine Russell, Biden visited the headquarters of non- governmental organization Lao Disabled Women's Development Centre, presenting a grant for 230,000 U.S. dollars.

The funding is set to assist the center expand employment opportunities to help provide its all-female graduate trainees greater personal and economic autonomy.

Acquired disabilities as a result of accidents involving unexploded ordnance (UXO) remain a problem in rural Laos as the country continues its long recovery from the effects of bombing sorties undertaken by the U.S. military between the years of 1964 and 1973.

Meanwhile, the increasing number of motor vehicle accidents risk disabling the country's road users, both male and female, in great numbers.

Biden is set to visit a World Vision educational project and cultural preservation works in Luang Prabang, the country's World- Heritage-listed ancient capital Wednesday afternoon. Endi