Saleumxay Kommasith (right) welcomes Enrique Manalo. - VT
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith and his Philippines’ counterpart Enrique Manalo have agreed to work together to enhance ties and broaden cooperation between the two South-East Asian countries.
Manalo and his delegation arrived in Vientiane on Thursday (Aug 3) for an official visit to Laos in response to an invitation from Saleumxay, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement.
It is Manalo’s first visit to Laos in his capacity as Secretary for Foreign Affairs after being appointed in July 2022.
The two top diplomats co-chaired the 2nd meeting of the Laos-Philippines Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC).
The two parties discussed bilateral cooperation in areas ranging from politics to national defence, security, economics, trade and investment, energy, technology, telecommunications, public works and transport, social and cultural spheres, education, sports, tourism, labour, agriculture, and foreign affairs.
The ministers also reviewed bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries over the past six years since the first JCBC meeting, which took place in 2017.
In 2022, two-way trade between the two countries topped US$10 million, and rose further to more than US$29 million over the first six months of this year.
Philippines’ companies have invested in four projects in Laos worth US$325,439, putting the country in 47th place among all foreign investors in Laos.
The two sides agreed to maintain high-level contacts and exchanges of visits, and further promote trade and investment by encouraging their companies to explore business opportunities in areas of potential.
The ministers agreed to push for the realisation of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation, as well as encourage the signing of more agreements on cooperation in the fields of education, investment, national defence, agriculture and other areas.
They pledged to offer mutual support in the regional and international arenas and discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The ministers said they highly valued the friendly relations and cooperation between Laos and the Philippines over the past 68 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties.
They noted that these sound relations and cooperation have been continuously enhanced. This has been reflected by the fact that the leaders of both sides have made regular reciprocal visits.
In this regard, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone met the Philippines’ President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr on the sidelines of the 42nd Asean Summit, held in Indonesia in May. They agreed that the two countries would work closely to boost cooperation including in the areas of health, education, trade and people-to-people exchanges.
Saleumxay said he highly valued his counterpart’s visit, adding that it has helped to strengthen the sound friendly relations and cooperation between Laos and the Philippines.
On behalf of the government and people of Laos, he expressed heartfelt gratitude to the government and people of the Philippines for the assistance and support extended to Laos in various fields over past years.
The Lao foreign minister also informed his guests about Laos’ preparations to assume the Asean chair in 2024.
For his part, Manalo thanked his host for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation. He also expressed gratitude for Laos’ assistance and support to the Philippines.
The ministers signed a communique of the 2nd JCBC.
Manalo, on behalf of the government of the Philippines, handed over 10 tablets to the Lao government for use during the country’s chairmanship of Asean.
