Second Joint Committee Meeting under Agreement between Japan and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for the Liberalization, Promotion and Protection of Investment (Jointly issued with Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR)

October 6, 2010
Japanese

The Second Joint Committee Meeting under Agreement between Japan and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for the Liberalization, Promotion and Protection of Investment (hereafter “Agreement”).was held in Vientiane, the capital of Lao PDR, on October 6 (Wed), co-chaired by Mr. Kazuya Endo, Director of the First Southeast Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Mr. Phouangkeo Langsy, Director-General of the Asia-Pacific and Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR.
The Joint Committee was established based on Article 23 of the Agreement. This was the second time the meeting has been held, following the first meeting held in March 2009.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged frank opinions on the implementation and operation status of each of the articles, including National Treatment (Article 2), Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment (Article 3), Prohibition of Performance Requirements (Article 7), and Transparency (Article 9). The discussion was based on the recognition of the importance of promoting private-sector investments in strengthening the “Comprehensive Partnership” agreed between two countries at the summit level.
Furthermore, the two sides discussed the scope of liberalization stipulated in the Agreement, in light of the status of development of domestic laws within Lao PDR since the first Joint Committee meeting.
Both sides agreed to continue the effort toward the smooth implementation and operation of the Agreement for the purpose of promoting Japanese investments to Lao PDR, and to hold a subsequent meeting at a mutually opportune time.

(END)

Back to Index