(KPL) The President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta, accompanied by a high-ranking delegation of Timor-Leste, is on a state visit to the Lao PDR (Feb 27- Mar 2) in response to the invitation of President Thongloun Sisoulith.

At a meeting in Vientiane, President Thongloun congratulated Timor-Leste on its newly announced membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and expressed his hope that Laos and Timor-Leste will work closely together to foster their trade cooperation.

Both sides highly valued the sound friendship and cooperation between the two countries, especially the political area.

They agreed to continue to strengthen the relations and cooperation between the two countries, seek cooperation in new areas where both countries have potential, to promote economic cooperation such as trade, investment, agriculture, energy, services and tourism.

The two leaders also agreed to establish the Laos-Timor Leste Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) as a mechanism to promote cooperation as well as to monitor and promote the implementation of the agreement between the two governments of Laos and Timor-Leste.

During the meeting, President Thongloun Sisoulith reaffirmed that the Lao PDR supports and is ready to share its lessons with Timor-Leste in preparing for its full membership of ASEAN in 2025.

President Jose Ramos Horta also reaffirmed Timor-Leste's support for the Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2024.

KPL