(KPL) Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko of Japan is scheduled to pay an official visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) from November 17 to 22, marking her first official overseas mission and underscoring the long-standing friendship between the two nations, according to The Japan Times.

The visit holds special significance as it coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Lao PDR.

During her six-day stay, Princess Aiko will pay courtesy calls on Lao leaders, including President Thongloun Sisoulith and Vice President Pany Yathotou. A welcoming reception will be hosted in Vientiane to highlight the deep and enduring friendship between the two countries.

While in Vientiane, the Princess will visit the COPE Center, where she will learn about the ongoing challenges posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the Indochina War and meet with humanitarian workers engaged in UXO clearance and victim assistance.

Princess Aiko will then travel to Luang Prabang Province, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its cultural and historical significance. There, she will visit the National Museum and hold discussions with the Provincial Governor. The Luang Prabang leg of her journey is expected to be one of the highlights of the visit.

Before concluding her trip on November 22, Princess Aiko will meet with Japanese residents in Laos as well as Lao citizens with close connections to Japan, reinforcing people-to-people ties between the two countries.

This will mark the fifth visit by a member of the Japanese Imperial Family to the Lao PDR—an enduring reflection of the strong and friendly relationship shared by the two nations.

Earlier this year, Laos and Japan elevated their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in celebration of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. During Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone’s visit to Tokyo in January, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in economic development, trade and investment, air connectivity, resource development, and UXO clearance. The two countries have also designated 2025 as the “Laos–Japan Friendship Year.”

KPL