Courtesy Call on Mr. Naoto Kan, Prime Minister by Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

August 3, 2011
Japanese

(Photo:Courtesy Call on Mr. Naoto Kan, Prime Minister by Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic)

(Photos: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

Today (Wednesday, August 3), for approximately 15 minutes from 5:30 p.m., Prime Minister Naoto Kan received a courtesy call by H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) who is visiting Japan as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An outline of the meeting is as follows.

Opening
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun conveyed a message of condolence extended by H.E. Mr. Thongsing Thammavong, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and expressed his confidence that Japan would overcome and recover from the disaster. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun also expressed his sincere appreciation noting that the people of the Lao PDR would never forget the kindnesses shown by Japan, whose continuing support to the Lao PDR has been unchanged despite Japan’s present difficulties. 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 that the women of the Lao PDR are also delighted by this achievement.
In reply, Prime Minister Kan 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 on Monday, August 1 in which he expressed solidarity towards Japan. He also expressed his appreciation for the Lao PDR’s congratulations on the “Nadeshiko Japan” World Cup victory, and said he was pleased to learn that the people of the Lao PDR took this as a victory for a team representing Asia.
Progress of the Bilateral “Comprehensive Partnership”
Prime Minister Kan said that the Government of Japan wished to continue to promote the “Comprehensive Partnership” with the new Government of the Lao PDR, which came into office in June, and requested the Lao side to take measures to improve business environment to attract more Japanese investment to Lao PDR. Moreover, Prime Minister Kan stated that the Government of Japan would cooperate to the fullest extent possible to make the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) next year, for which the Lao PDR is serving as the host nation, successful. In reply to this, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun expressed his appreciation for Japan’s support and promised that the Lao PDR would cooperate even more closely with Japan.

(*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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