Asia
Japan-Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
May 6, 2014
On Tuesday, May 6, commencing at 6:50 p.m. (Paris time) for approximately 20 minutes, Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida, who was visiting Paris, held a Japan-Lao PDR Foreign Ministers' Meeting with H.E Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR, at the OECD headquarters. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. Opening remarks (Cooperation in the context of the OECD)
Foreign Minister Kishida welcomed the establishment of the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme on May 6, and said he intends to continue to support strengthening relations between Southeast Asia and the OECD. Taking the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Lao PDR next year, Foreign Minister Kishida said he wants to develop cooperation in a broad range of fields toward strengthening the “Comprehensive Partnership” between Japan and Lao PDR.
In response, Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun congratulated Japan on the 50th anniversary of its accession to the OECD and appreciated Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s attendance at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun said that in the run-up to the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations next year, he wants to develop relations between the two countries by mutual high level visits.
2. Bilateral Relations
Foreign Minister Kishida welcomed the first Japan and Laos security dialogue held in Lao PDR in April this year, and recent development toward conclusion of a bilateral agreement for air services. He also conveyed Japan's plan to provide grant aid for infrastructure development and human resources development. Furthermore, he explained that as a result of the growing interest about investing in Lao PDR among Japanese companies in recent years, a country office of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) was opened in Vientiane in April this year, and said he expects this will facilitate further inroads of Japanese Companies into Lao PDR.
In response, Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun expressed appreciation for the provision of new grant aid and said he wants to continue the security dialogue.