Press Releases

On May 23, commencing at 6:00 p.m., Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, participated in a signing ceremony for the exchange of notes with H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, for the Nam Ngum 1 Hydropower Station Expansion Project, the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship, and the Thakhek Water Supply Development Project. Afterwards, the two had a meeting for approximately 20 minutes. The overview of the meeting is as follows:

1. At the start of the meeting, Minister Kishida welcomed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongloun to Japan, remarking that Laos is located at the core of the Mekong region, that it is an important country for regional stability and development, and said that he hoped to strengthen the "comprehensive partnership" with Laos. In response, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongloun expressed gratitude for the holding of the above-mentioned signing ceremony during his visit to Japan, and stated that he wanted to work with Minister Kishida to enhance exchange between their two countries.
2. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongloun said that he wanted both countries to celebrate 2015, as it will be the 60th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos. Furthermore, he expressed thanks for the contribution that Japanese aid is making to the elimination of poverty in his country, and requested support for fields prioritized by Laos such as industrial zones and urban development in Vientiane.
   In response, Minister Kishida said that he also hoped both countries would celebrate the 60th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos, adding that he wanted to thoroughly consider projects for which requests had been made as well.
   In addition, Minister Kishida communicated that a terminal expansion project being managed and operated by a Japanese corporation at Vientiane International Airport had been certified by the Japanese Government as a public-private partnership project for which it would be possible to offer yen loans. He also stated continued support for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Laos and said he wanted to promote defense exchange and private sector economic relations.
3. Minister Kishida and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongloun had an exchange of opinions on situations in the Asia-Pacific region.