Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Japan-Laos Summit Meeting
Photograph of Prime Minister Aso shaking hands with Prime Minister Bouasone
At the beginning, Prime Minister Aso said, "I am very glad to meet Prime Minister Bouasone once again after two years. I would like to further advance Japan-Laos relations this Mekong-Japan Exchange Year. Next year will mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos, and as such, we would like to invite President Choummaly to visit Japan in March or April of 2010." In response, Prime Minister Bouasone stated that he appreciated the invitation for President Choummaly to visit Japan, and that he would like to invite Prime Minister Aso to visit Laos. Prime Minister Aso responded by saying that he would be most gratified to visit Laos at a convenient time.
During the talks, Prime Minister Aso stated that Japan, as in the past, would spare no effort to cooperate for the Laos' stable economic growth. He explained that the number of Japanese companies focusing on Laos as an attractive investment destination was increasing in recent years, and that Laos' initiatives to develop the investment environment held importance in realizing investment from such companies. Prime Minister Aso also explained Japan's cooperation to support Asian nations' initiatives, such as Official Development Assistance (ODA) with a maximum amount of 2 trillion yen (about 20 billion dollars), which include yen loans as urgent financial support.
In response, Prime Minister Bouasone stated that Japan had been the largest donor for Laos, and that on behalf of the people of Laos he would like to extend appreciation to the people of Japan for Japan's assistance to Laos and cooperation in the Mekong region. Prime Minister Bouasone furthermore stated that he welcomed Japanese companies' investment in Laos, expressing his wish to steadily carry out the Action Plan formulated through the Japan-Lao PDR Public and Private Dialogue, with the Japan-Laos investment agreement which had came into force recently, so as to develop the investment environment.
The leaders also exchanged views on the importance of the Cool Earth Partnership and the East-West Economic Corridor in the Mekong region, as well as on Japan's assistance related to these initiatives.
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Photograph of the two leaders who are to hold talks
Photograph of the Japan-Laos Summit Meeting
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