General Information

17th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum
11-15 January 2009

General Information

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Meeting venue
The 17th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) will be hosted by the National Assembly of Lao PDR at Don Chan Palace Hotel, Vientiane Capital from 11-15 January 2009.

All meetings of the APPF-17 will take place at Don Chan Palace, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR.
Don Chan Palace
Address: Unit 6 Piawat Village, Sisattanak District, Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel: (856-21) 244 288
Fax: (856-21) 244 111-2
Website: http://www.donchanpalacelaopdr.com

2. Registration and information service
Delegates are kindly requested to register for the meeting no later than 30 November 2008. Registration forms can be sent to the following address:
The Lao National APPF-17 Secretariat
Office of the National Assembly of Lao PDR / Foreign Affairs Department
P.O. Box 662, Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel/Fax: (856-21) 413515
Email: appf@na.gov.la
Website: http://www.na.gov.la/appf17

All delegates and accompanying persons are kindly requested to register as soon as possible upon arrival.

A Registration Information Desk will be set up in Don Chan Palace from 14.00-18.00 on Saturday 10th January 2009 and from 08.00-18.00 on 11th -15th January 2009. Program and all relevant conference materials
will be distributed for delegates at the desk.

All theme papers, draft resolutions and written comments from member countries should be forwarded by participating delegations to the 17th Annual Meeting Secretariat no later than 30 November 2008
REGISTRATION FORM (Download) [Doc. format]
HOTEL RESERVATION FORM (Download) [Doc. format]

3. Identity badges
For security purposes, delegates, accompanying persons, and members of the Secretariat Organizing Committee are requested to wear their identity badges visibly at all times, both during the meeting and at all
official receptions.

Various identity badges are referred to the following:

Identities                                   Color
Delegate                                    Blue
Accompanying Person           Pink
Secretary/Advisor                   Green
Diplomatic Corps                    Purple
APPF Secretariat                    Orange
Security                                    Red
Press                                        Grey
Guest                                       Yellow

4. Accommodation and hotel reservation
Expenses related to the meeting, official reception and meals specified in the programme of activities will be covered by the host country.

Costs such as meals outside the meeting framework, accommodation and other services (mini-bar, laundry, international phone calls, telex, fax, etc…) will be borne by participating delegates.

The following selected hotels’ information are available for delegates’ preference in a respective way

Preliminary block bookings have been made for the meeting at the hotels listed above respectively. Please send the enclosed hotel reservation form to the Meeting Secretariat at the National Assembly in Lao PDR (see
contact details above). We urge you to make your reservations as early as possible by following the “first come first serve” principle, but no later than 30 November 2008.

In the event of cancellation please notify the Meeting Secretariat in Lao PDR. Note that cancellation at short notice may result in a charge according to the hotel’s cancellation policy.

5. Arrival and departure
In order to ensure an efficient welcome service at Wattay International Airport, Vientiane, all delegates are kindly requested to include details of arrival and departure (date, time, flight number) on the hotel reservation
form sent to the Meeting Secretariat in Lao PDR by 30 November 2008.

6. Visas
Delegates from ASEAN countries do not require a visa to enter Lao PDR. Delegates from other countries are kindly requested to obtain a visa in advance from the nearest Lao Embassy or Consulate. In case there is
no Lao Embassy or Consulate, delegates may email a scanned copy of their passport to the Meeting Secretariat in Lao PDR by 30 November 2008 in order to arrange for visa on arrival. In addition, they need to bring
along two 4 x 6 centimetre photographs.

7. List of embassies
Please refer to the website of Lao PDR’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a comprehensive listing of Lao embassies located in foreign countries concerned: http://www.mofa.gov.la

8. Transportation
Transportation will be provided, on arrival and departure, between Wattay International Airport, Vientiane, and designated hotel for delegates who have given arrival details, and for official functions during
the conference.

9. Language
The Meeting will be held in English. Delegates and speakers are requested to arrange for their own interpretation if required. Delegations needing translation booth are kindly requested to submit prior notice to
the APPF-17 Secretariat in due course.

10. Hospitality information
• Climate
In January, the weather is usually very pleasant; dry and sunny with an average temperature of 20°c-25°c.
• Foreign exchange
The official currency of the Lao PDR is the Lao Kip. Currency exchange facilities are available at the hotels chosen for the Meeting, international airports, and in many locations around the city. Travellers cheques in major currencies can be cashed at banks. Cash can be withdrawn from banks using Visa and MasterCard over the counter and at a limited number of ATMs in the centre of the city. Credit cards are accepted in major hotels and a limited number of restaurants and shops.

11. Press center
The Press Center located in Don Chan Palace will begin its operation on 15 January 2008 with the aim of assisting members of the press to cover the conference. Journalists wishing to cover the 17th Annual Meeting of APPF are kindly requested to register in advance with the APPF-17 Secretariat.

12. Medical service
First-aid medical services will be operated at Don Chan Palace during the conference.

13. Bilateral meeting room
Delegations having the need for bilateral meeting rooms are kindly requested to contact the 17th APPF Secretariat for proper arrangement.

For further information please contact:
Meeting Secretariat in Lao PDR
C/o Mr. Khemphone Anothay
National Assembly of Lao PDR
P.O. Box 662, Vientiane, Lao PDR
Email: khemano@na.gov.la
Tel: + 856 21 413507, 413515
Fax: + 856 21 413547, 413 515

General Information

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