Courtesy Call on H.E. Mr. Bouasone Bouphavanh, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, by Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan

May 20, 2010
Japanese

On May 20 (Thu), Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Bouasone Bouphavanh, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic at the Imperial Hotel, Japan. The courtesy call began at 3:30 p.m and lasted for approximately thirty minutes.

Minister Okada said that Prime Minister Bouasone’s visit to Japan is timely, as the momentum for promoting exchange between Japan and Laos has been increasing since the visit to Japan of H.E. Mr. Choummaly Sayasone, President of the Lao PDR, in March 2010. He mentioned that we would be able to make the relationship between Japan and Laos much deeper while relations between Japan and the other countries in the Mekong region are deepening. Prime Minister Bouasone said that he would like to closely cooperate with Japan in the future towards the promotion of a “comprehensive partnership.” He also expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Government and people of Laos for the various assistance that Japan has provided as a long-time top donor for the economic and social development of Laos.
Prime Minister Bouasone said that Laos will begin the Seventh Five Year Socio-Economic Development Plan in 2011, and that achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is one of the major goals. This plan places special importance on the health of mothers and children and on increasing the ratio of children who attend the schools. Prime Minister Bouasone said that he would like to ask Japan to continue providing assistance. In response, Minister Okada said that it is important to build structures for improving the health of mothers and children, in addition to financial assistance. He stated that Japan has a great deal of experience and capacity in the various fields of the MDGs, and that Japan would be able to provide various cooperation in the future.
Minister Okada said that the First Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions that will take place in November 2010 in Laos will become an important conference, and that Japan hopes to provide sufficient support. Prime Minister Bouasone said that it had been the right decision for the international society to hold the conference in Laos.
An exchange of views was also held regarding the situation of Thailand.

(END)

Back to Index