South Dovani

[Wu Han]

As nobles dance in Eroncourt, Crown Prince pens major agreements
The tour in Lourenne, which began with a ball in Eroncourt, has resulted in major deals made between Lourenne and Hanzen.
5 April 4743


Above: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Khemkhaeng attends ball in Eroncourt (left); An interior of the Palace of Lights (right)

Crown Prince Khemkhaeng arrived in Lourenne in the early morning hours of April 4th; accordingly, he was received by Arielle Banlengchit, Hanzenese Ambassador to Lourenne with little fanfare. After resting at the Hanzense Embassy, Crown Prince Khemkhaeng was received by Her Royal Majesty Queen Isabelle III of Lourenne, who threw a ball in his honour. The Crown Prince capitalized on the rare opportunity to hobnob with the Lourennian elite, condensed in a single ballroom, to hash out the details of a number of trade agreements, expected to be ratified soon by the Hanzenese and Lourennian governments.

In a communique issued by the Hanzenese Foreign Ministry, it was stated that a new forthcoming trade agreement between the two countries will see Hanzen exports gaining preferential and tariff-free access to the Lourennian market, the fifth-largest economy in the world.

In the evening following the ball, the Crown Prince was hosted by the Sun Clan in Lourenne at the Château du Sirault, a vineyard estate in rural Luçande, Lourenne. The Château was originally purchased by Jianxiao Emperor in 4454, and has been passed down to descendants of the Sun Clan's junior branch in Lourenne. At the Château, the Crown Prince conducted a number of meetings with Lourennian officials, resulting in further agreements reached between the two continental nations.

First, in line with the Lourennian government's focus on sustainability and renewable energy, it has been announced that Eroncourt will extend 20,000 full-ride scholarships to Hanzenese students studying engineering and other "green" academic programs per year into perpetuity. Second, the governments of Lourenne and Hanzen have agreed to co-operate on a proposed major hydroelectric project in Eastern Hanzen, to be known as the "Lourenne-Hanzen Friendship Dam."


Above: An artistic rendering of the "Lourenne-Hanzen Friendship Dam"

While more specific details are expected in the coming days and weeks, a broad outline of the funding structure is reported as follows: the government of Lourenne will directly fund nearly 20% of the total $790m project, and extend credit to Hanzen at a fixed 1.5% interest rate for approximately 60% of the project. Hanzen will fund the remaining portion of the project through tax revenue and other sources. It is anticipated that the completed hydroelectric dam will generate about 1,100 MW of electricity, a major stride in electrifying the underdeveloped and largely rural eastern regions of the Kingdom. Additionally, the dam will serve to provide agricultural irrigation and control flooding.

Speaking to reporters on his final day in Lourenne, the Crown Prince said he was "eternally grateful for the fraternity and assistance of the United Kingdom [of Lourenne]," and pledged that he would "pray for the health of Queen Isabelle III and for the continuation her wise rulership."

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Originally posted by Wu Han on Apr 30, 2020, in the thread "Hanzenese Royal Tour 4743." "Phra" was changed to "Hanzai."