Lao PM’s visit marks 60-year bilateral ties

TOKYO: Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong arrived in Tokyo yesterday for a four-day official visit to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Japan and expand political and economic ties between the two countries.

Mr Thongsing plans to meet Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tomorrow, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The visit comes as the two countries step up economic ties, with the number of Japanese investors in Laos doubling to about 120 late last year from the 2012 level, according to Japanese government data.

“We will make efforts to further upgrade the comprehensive partnership our nations have,” Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said at the outset of yesterday’s meeting with Mr Thongsing that was open to the media.

Mr Kishida thanked Laos for giving four Asian elephants to a zoo in the city of Kyoto last year to commemorate the 60th anniversary.

The elephants were unveiled to the public last week.

Mr Thongsing, in response, said his trip to Japan this year comes at a significant time and that he is “extremely happy to see that bilateral ties have developed into a strategic relationship”.

Posting real economic growth of around 8% in recent years, Laos is called a “plusone” country for foreign businesses to avert potential risks of excessively concentrating operations in neighbouring Thailand and China.

Mr Thongsing will address a business seminar today in Tokyo and Hiroyuki Ishige, chairman of the government-backed Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro), will give a briefing on Jetro’s activity in Laos, according to organisers.

Jetro opened an office in Vientiane in April last year to strengthen information gathering and assist Japanese investors and prospective investors in Laos.

Japan aims to promote ties with Laos and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which have pledged to advance connectivity for further development as the 10-nation bloc moves to establish a more integrated Asean Community at the end of this year.

EPA Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong shakes hands with Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida prior to their meeting in Tokyo yesterday. The Lao prime minister arrived in Japan for a fourday long official visit.