Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bounleua Phandanouvong (R) shake hands with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Evgeny Shestakov in Vientiane on Mar14

(KPL) The 3rd political dialogue between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos and Belarus was held in Vientiane on Mar 14.

The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bounleua Phandanouvong and visiting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Evgeny Shestakov.

Mr. Evgeny Shestakov and his delegation were on a working visit to the Lao PDR between Mar 12 and 15 to attend the celebration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Belarus.

The meeting allowed both sides to review the bilateral cooperation over the past years, discuss opportunities, difficulties and directions of cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting allowed the two foreign ministries to continue mutual dialogue mechanism, creating favourable conditions for the exchange of high ranking officials over years to come, enhancing the collaboration between the two ministries on a win-win basis.

Both sides noted that the relations and cooperation between the two countries has been constantly strengthened since the two countries established diplomatic ties in February 1994, especially through the exchange of high ranking officials, mutual support at regional and international arenas including the United Nations, and ASEAN.

They also agreed to further promote exchange of high ranking officials of the two countries and people to people exchange, the 4th political dialogue mechanism of the two ministries, cooperation on Party affairs and public diplomacy, promote the collaboration between businesses, tourists and civil society organizations as well as exchanges between the two parliaments.

Both sides also agreed to promote cooperation on economy, trade, investment, security and national defence, finance, banking, health, education, human resource development, tourism, culture, among others.

The Belarusian officials also pledged to encourage the Belarusian people to visit the Lao PDR, especially during the implementation of Visit Laos Year 2024.

The officials of the two ministries 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.

Deputy Minister Bounleua Phandanouvong expressed on behalf of the government and people of Laos his gratitude to the government and people of Belarus for their cooperation and support to the Lao PDR which have significantly contributed to the socio-economic development of the Lao PDR.

On the same day, the visiting Belarusian official and his delegation also paid a courtesy call to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith.

KPL