Japan-Laos Relations
Japan-Laos Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
August 6, 2022
On August 6, commencing at 11:30 a.m. (local time; same day, 1:30 p.m. JST) for approximately 50 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic during his visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia to attend the ASEAN-related Foreign Minister’s Meeting. An overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi expressed his gratitude for Minister Saleumxay's condolences on the recent passing of former Japanese Prime Minister ABE Shinzo. He expressed his willingness to expand and deepen bilateral relations which was upgraded to a "strategic partnership" under the Abe administration. In response, Minister Saleumxay again expressed his condolences and mentioned the achievements of former Prime Minister Abe.
- As a follow-up to the Japan-Laos Summit meeting held in Kumamoto in April, the two Ministers affirmed the progress of important bilateral projects and shared the view to continue to cooperate closely in various fields, including support for Laos' ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024. They also welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the “Specified Skilled Worker” system and affirmed their commitment to promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
- The two Ministers also held an exchange of views on regional situations. On the situation surrounding Ukraine, they affirmed the importance of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force are unacceptable in any region. The two Ministers also shared the view to continue to work together in dealing with the situation surrounding Taiwan, the situation in Myanmar, on North Korea including the nuclear, missile and abductions issue, and the South China Sea issue.
- Finally, the two Ministers concluded their meeting by affirming that they would work closely together toward the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation next year, and on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos in 2025.