Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong (L) shaking hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, 6 March 2015. photo by Kyodo.

By Ko Hirano

  TOKYO, March 6 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong agreed Friday to upgrade bilateral ties to a “strategic partnership” that would serve the peace and development of not only the two countries but the international community.

The two leaders “decided to upgrade the bilateral relationship to ‘strategic partnership’ based on mutual respect, trust and understanding to develop mutually beneficial partnership further, thus contributing to the promotion of global peace and prosperity,” according to a joint statement issued after their summit in Tokyo.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Mr. Thongsing after the summit, Abe said Japan will continue to assist Laos and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for further development even after the 10-nation bloc launches a more integrated ASEAN Economic Community at the end of this year.

     “I’m pleased that (the two leaders) agreed to elevate the (two countries’) comprehensive partnership on to a strategic partnership as part of efforts to further strengthen friendly and cooperative relations between Laos and Japan,” Mr. Thongsing said.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the government and the people of Japan for their significant contribution to social and economic development of Laos,” he said.

     Mr. Thongsing’s official visit came as the two countries commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations and Laos is set to assume the ASEAN chair in 2016.

     Earlier Friday, Mr. Thongsing had an audience with Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace. On Thursday, the Lao leader attended a dinner session with Prince Akishino, the younger son of the emperor, and his wife Princess Kiko.

     As part of efforts to increase political ties, Abe and Mr. Thongsing agreed at Friday’s summit to hold another bilateral security dialogue, the inaugural session of which was held in Vientiane last year, “on a mutually convenient occasion in 2015,” according to an annex of the joint statement.

     Praising Japan’s path as a peace-loving nation for 70 years since the end of World War II, Mr. Thongsing expressed support for “Japan’s more active role in ensuring peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the international community under the policy of ‘proactive contribution to peace’ based on the principle of international cooperation,” the statement said.

     The two leaders affirmed cooperation in ensuring the success of a U.N. disaster risk reduction meeting on March 14-18 in Sendai, northeastern Japan, and a summit of Japan and five ASEAN states along the Mekong River on July 4 in Tokyo.

     Abe welcomed the planned participation of Lao Deputy Prime Minister Asang Laoly in the U.N. meeting and of Mr. Thongsing in the Japan-Mekong summit.

     The four other Mekong states are Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

     On the economic front, Abe offered Japan’s continued aid in developing infrastructure in Laos, such as hydroelectric power plants, dams and airports, to help it achieve sustained and environmentally friendly growth.

     Being the largest provider of official development assistance to Laos, Japan has been aiding the country with, for example, a Vientiane airport terminal expansion project and the improvement of a national road on the “East-West Economic Corridor” linking Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar for increased connectivity in the region.

     With the number of Japanese investors in Laos doubling to some 120 in the last two years, Abe and Mr. Thongsing agreed to promote trade and investment between the two countries.

     Data show that as of last year, Japan is the sixth largest export market for Laos and the fourth biggest origin of imports. Thailand and China are the two largest trading partners for Laos.

KPL