Laos, Japan enhance comprehensive partnership
(KPL) President Choummaly Sayasone received here on Sunday a courtesy call of Japan’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Katsuya Okada, and his delegation.
President Choummaly highly valued the assistance extended by Japanese government and people to Laos and considered the assistance most important for the constant economic growth of Laos. He assured the Japanese foreign minister that the Lao PDR had closely been monitoring the operation of Japan-funded programmes.
Through the Japanese Foreign Minister, the Lao President expressed his gratitude to Emperor Akihito and the Empress for their friendly and warm reception given to him and his delegation during his visit to Japan in March this year.
He said that poverty reduction was a priority in the seventh five-year socio-economic development plan of the Lao government, emphasising the government’s aim to shake off the country from the UN’s list of least developed countries by 2020.
He also informed the visiting guests that Laos pays high attention to reducing the poverty of Lao people through efforts in the socio-economic development including the development of tourism service as well as the contribution to the resolution of climate change. He affirmed the Lao government’s intention to increase forest coverage up to 70 per cent by 2020.
Mr. Katsuya expressed the intention of Japanese government to support the seventh five-year socio-economic development plan of the Lao PDR and to the study into the possibility of supporting the long term and strategic development programmes in Laos.
He said that since the visit to Japan by President of Laos in March this year the relations between the two countries had constantly developed and the bilateral cooperation has reached the zenith this year. He confirmed Japan’s attempt in providing assistance to Laos.
Laos and Japan upgraded their traditional bilateral relation to be comprehensive cooperative partnership during the visit to Japan by President Choummaly Sayasone and his spouse in March this year.
Before a courtesy visit to President of Laos, Mr. Katsuya had met his Lao counterpart, Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, and called on Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh.
At the talks with his Lao counterpart, Mr. Katsuya highlighted issues regarding the enhancement of the relation and cooperation between Laos and Japan as 2010 marks the 55th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. The two foreign ministers discussed the development of investment environment necessary for Japanese companies to engage in business activities in Laos, the establishment of association of Japanese business companies in Laos, the strengthening of cooperation in different areas in the international arena, including climate change and landmines-unexploded ordnance, the first meeting of state parties to the convention on cluster weapons which will be held in Laos in November this year.
The two foreign ministers also witnessed the signing of a document regarding Laos’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
At the talks between the Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh and the foreign minister of Japan, both sides expressed satisfaction over the good cooperation and relation between Laos and Japan over the past decades of years.
Mr. Katsuya ended up his visit to Laos with taking a cruise on the Mekong River to admire the riverine nature and study daily living condition of Lao people living on the riverbank, visiting organisations that have received official development assistance (ODA) from Japan including the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, Sikhottabong hospital, Children’s Education Development Centre and Vientiane Capital Vocational Training Centre.
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