Meeting between Mr. Takeaki Matsumoto, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic

August 2, 2011
Japanese

(Photo:Meeting between Mr. Takeaki Matsumoto, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)

Today (on Tuesday, August 2), from 6:40 p.m. to 7:40 p.m., Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeaki Matsumoto held a meeting with H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). An outline of the meeting is as follows.

Opening
Foreign Minister Matsumoto welcomed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun's visit to Japan and expressed his deepest gratitude for the support provided by the Lao PDR at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and also for the visit paid by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun to Natori City in Miyagi Prefecture. In reply to this, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun expressed his sincere condolences to the victims of the earthquake disaster. The two Ministers agreed to continue to promote the "Comprehensive Partnership" between Japan and the Lao PDR.Minister Thongloun also stated that it was an honor not only for Japan but also for Asia that "Nadeshiko Japan" won the FIFA Women's World Cup, and congratulated them upon being awarded the People's Honor Award.
Human Exchanges
Foreign Minister Matsumoto and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun agreed that the two countries will actively promote human exchanges such as youth exchanges in the context of the Japan - East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) program. In addition, they agreed that both countries will cooperate in organizing the "Japan Festival" (See note below).
The Economy and Economic Cooperation
Foreign Minister Matsumoto expressed support by the Government of Japan in realizing the 7th 5-Year-Plan for Social and Economic Development by the Government of the Lao PDR.
He also expressed his deepest gratitude to Japan for its support including with respect to the "Project for Expansion of Vientiane International Airport in the Lao People's Democratic Republic" and the "Project for Improvement of National Road No.9 as East-West Economic Corridor of the Mekong Region", for which they had signed the Exchange of Notes prior to the bilateral meeting.
In addition, Foreign Minister Matsumoto said that the Government of Japan wishes to support the development of the Lao PDR by promoting Japanese private sector investment in the country, and that the Government of Japan would also continue to support the improvement of business environment in the Lao PDR. In reply to this, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun said that the Lao PDR would like to cooperate with Japan even more closely to attract Japanese investment to Lao PDR to achieve the goals of the 5-Year-Plan.
Cooperation in the International Fora
Foreign Minister Matsumoto stated Japan would support the Lao PDR so as to make the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in 2012 to be successful. In reply to this, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun expressed his appreciation for Japan's support. Moreover, he remarked that the Lao PDR consistently supports Japan's position toward UN Security Council reform. In addition, Foreign Minister Matsumoto and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun also exchanged views about ASEAN, the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CMM), the environment and climate change issues, etc.
The Regional Situation
Foreign Minister Matsumoto and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun exchanged views regarding the regional situation.

[Note] "Japan Festival—Thank You, Lao PDR! Advancing Together into the Future—"
This event will be held for the purpose of expressing appreciation for the support Japan has received from the Lao PDR in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and introducing the efforts toward reconstruction in Japan, as well as to further promote mutual understanding and improvement of relations between Japan and the Lao PDR.

(*This is a provisional translation. The above date denotes the date of the issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

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