First Joint Committee Meeting under　Agreement between Japan and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic　for the Liberalization, Promotion and Protection of Investment

March 9, 2009
Japanese

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

The First Joint Committee Meeting under Agreement between Japan and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for the Liberalization, Promotion and Protection of Investment was held in Vientiane Capital on March 9 (Monday), 2009.
It was the first meeting of the Joint Committee since the Agreement entered into force in August 2008. When H.E. Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visited Laos in January this year and had talks with H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos. The two ministers agreed that the first meeting of Joint Committee of the Agreement be held in this spring.
In the meeting, both sides shared recognition that investments of private sectors will play a key role in enhancing bilateral relationship, and discussed the implementation and operation of the articles of the Agreement such as; National Treatment (Article 2), Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment (Article 3), Fair and Equitable Treatment (Article 5) and Prohibition of Performance Requirements (Article 7). Both sides confirmed that they will continue to work closely to further facilitate the implementation and operation of the Agreement for the purpose of promoting Japanese investments to Laos.

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