(KPL) On October 12, 2024, at the Presidential Palace in Vientiane, President Thongloun Sisoulith welcomed the official visit of Mr. Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, who was in Laos to participate in the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related meetings in Vientiane.

President Thongloun congratulated Mr. Lawrence Wong on his appointment as the 4th Prime Minister of Singapore in May, expressing admiration for the trust placed in his knowledge, abilities, and broad vision in leading and managing the country.

The President highly valued the official visit, which coincides with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Singapore (Dec 2, 1974 – 2024). He noted that this visit significantly contributes to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

President Thongloun praised the success of the bilateral meeting between the Prime Ministers of Laos and Singapore, which reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the gains from past cooperation and deepening ties.

He expressed support for regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and encouraged collaboration in various sectors, including politics, economics, trade and investment, electricity trading, carbon credit exchange, food supply, public health, and the promotion of people-to-people exchanges.

The President also emphasized the importance of mutual support in regional and international forums, aiming to maintain stability, peace, and prosperity in the region and within the ASEAN family.

President Thongloun expressed sincere gratitude to the Government and people of Singapore for their continuous support to the Lao PDR over the years, particularly in areas such as human resource development, the Singapore Volunteer Program, assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, and support for Laos in its role as ASEAN Chair for 2024.

He also highlighted Singapore’s aid to the Lao people affected by the floods in early September 2024.

Additionally, the President extended warm greetings to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam of Singapore and Senior Minister, former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, inviting them to visit the Lao PDR at an appropriate time.

In response, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong thanked President Thongloun for the warm welcome and reaffirmed his commitment to furthering cooperation and mutual support between the two countries. He emphasized his dedication to implementing the agreements reached by the leaders of both nations.

PM Lawrence Wong pledged to urge relevant sectors in Singapore to collaborate closely with their Lao counterparts, strengthen cooperation in key areas, and promote mutual support in regional and international arenas, ultimately delivering concrete benefits to the people of both nations and contributing to the prosperity of the ASEAN Community.

KPL