President Thongloun Sisoulith (L) and Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in Brunei Darussalam

(KPL) President Thongloun Sisoulith, accompanied by his spouse, and a high ranking delegation paid a state visit to Brunei Darussalam between Oct 24-26 in response to the invitation of Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah to strengthen the longstanding relations and sound cooperation between Laos and Brunei Darussalam.

A welcome ceremony in honour of President Thongloun, his spouse and the high ranking delegation of the Lao PDR was held at Istana Nurul Iman on Tuesday morning by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

Extending a warm welcome to the visiting President at a bilateral meeting, Brunei King highly appreciated President Thongloun for leading the senior officials of Laos in visiting Brunei.

In reply, President Thongloun expressed his hope that his visit will be a landmark in strengthening the relations and sound cooperation between Laos and Brunei, and reaffirms the commitment of the Lao people to lifting to new heights the relations and sound cooperation between the two countries.

Both leaders highly valued the relations and cooperation of the two countries which have witnessed a constant growth in many areas over the past years, especially in politic, human resource development, economic and social-cultural spheres.

Both sides also discussed cooperation directions for years to come to promote the traditional relations and sound cooperation between the two countries and agreed to organize meaningful activities to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Lao-Brunei diplomatic relationship (July 27, 1993-2023) next year.

The President also invited the Brunei Darussalam Sultan to pay a state visit to the Lao PDR.

Both leaders also expressed their appreciation to the National Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Laos and the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Brunei for their co-hosting a business discussion during the state visit by President Thongloun to offer opportunities for discussion on business cooperation and partnership in potential areas to promote trade and investment between the two countries.

President Thongloun urged Brunei business people to invest in Laos especially in its competitive areas of agriculture, energy and tourism.

Both sides also informed each other about the socio-economic development in their respective countries and exchanged points of view on regional and international issues of common interest.

President Thongloun also affirmed Laos’ readiness to work with Brunei and other ASEAN member states to continue to strengthen ASEAN Community as the Lao PDR will resume its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024. He stated that an initiative to establish ASEAN Center for Climate Change in Brunei will play a key role in promoting information and lesson exchange between ASEAN member states and ASEAN partners thus strengthening their capabilities to response to climate change and natural disasters.

He also expressed gratitude to Brunei for its cooperation and assistance extended to Laos under ASEAN frameworks.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation on agriculture between the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos and the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism of Brunei and a memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation between the Ministry of Energy and Mines of the Lao PDR and Department of Energy, Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei.

On the same day, President Thongloun and his delegation also visited an oil and gas drilling site of Brunei Shell Petroleum and Brunei Liquefied Natural Gas where he was welcomed by Dato Dr Amin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II.

KPL