(KPL) The government of Laos has awarded a Friendship Medal to the outgoing Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR Kobayashi Kenichi in recognition of his great contribution to promoting the socio-economic development in Laos and strengthening the cooperation and relations between Laos and Japan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, on behalf of the government of the Lao PDR presented the friendship medal to Ambassador Kobayashi Kenichi on May 16, when receiving his a farewell visit. 

Saleumxay expressed his appreciation for the ambassador's contribution to enhancing the relations between the two countries and expressed his sincere gratitude for Japan’s assistance in supporting Official Development Assistance (ODA) and loan funds in many areas such as human resource development, public health, infrastructure development, agriculture and forestry, clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO), including Lao PDR's ASEAN chairmanship in 2024 and others, which has actively supported Lao PDR in the implementation of the 9th Five-year National socio-economic development plan.

The ambassador expressed his gratitude to the government and people of Lao PDR, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, for providing good cooperation, support and facilitation throughout the diplomatic mission in the Lao PDR. It is also a strategic partnership between Japan and the Lao PDR to be further developed in the future.

KPL