Japan-Laos Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

May 22, 2008

On May 22 (Thu), H.E. Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, had a Japan-Laos Foreign Ministers’ meeting with H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The outline of the meeting is as follows:

Foreign Minister Koumura announced that Japan will enhance ODA projects, mutual visits of VIPs, and investment/trade, cultural and youth exchanges through not only bilateral relations but also Japan-CLV (Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam) and Japan-Mekong region frameworks. Both ministers agreed to cooperate for the 2009 Japan-Mekong Exchange Year.
Foreign Minister Koumura referred to the First Japan-China Policy Dialogue on the Mekong Region, which was held in Beijing on April 25, and stated that Japan would continue to strengthen partnership with the Mekong countries in the future, and would steadily make efforts to build win-win relations among the three parties including China. Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun highly evaluated Japan’s efforts.
The two ministers confirmed that their countries would maintain close cooperation to deal with issues in the international community.
Foreign Minister Koumura expressed his recognition that it was an urgent issue to widely accept aid teams from the international community to rescue those affected by the cyclone in Myanmar and requested Laos, Myanmar’s neighbor, to work on the country to accept aid teams.

(END)

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