(KPL) On November 28, Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane welcomed here in Vientiane Mr. Bader Abdullah Al Matrooshi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the Lao PDR, whose office is based in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The ambassador visited Laos to participate in celebrations marking the 49th anniversary of the establishment of the Lao PDR.

During the meeting, Minister Thongsavanh highlighted the strong and growing friendship and cooperation between Laos and the UAE since the establishment of diplomatic relations on October 15, 1996. 

He expressed satisfaction with the continuous development of bilateral ties and acknowledged the mutual support and collaboration between the two nations in regional and international arenas.

Leaders of the two countries have maintained a regular exchange of visits and congratulatory messages on significant occasions.

The minister urged the ambassador to further promote the effective implementation of cooperation projects already agreed upon by the leaders of the two countries. He reaffirmed the Lao government’s commitment to working closely with the UAE to strengthen cooperation in various fields, particularly in the economic and trade sectors, investment, mining, clean energy, agriculture, labour, hospitality, tourism, and education.

Furthermore, he encouraged the UAE to increase business, investment, and tourism activities in Laos.

At the same time, Ambassador Bader Abdullah Al Matrooshi extended his congratulations on the occasion of the 49th National Day of the Lao PDR, expressing his admiration for the socio-economic achievements Laos has attained over the past years. The ambassador also congratulated Minister Thongsavanh on his recent appointment.

He reaffirmed the United Arab Emirates' commitment to further strengthening and deepening bilateral friendship and cooperation with Laos. He also commended the Lao PDR’s success in hosting the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits.

The ambassador affirmed his intention to encourage UAE businesspeople to invest in Laos, particularly in advantageous sectors such as dry ports, logistics, transport, green energy, and tourism, to promote people-to-people exchanges.

He suggested that the two countries could conduct a feasibility study on opening direct flights and increasing visa exemptions for tourists from both nations. Additionally, he spoke highly of the mutual support shared by the two countries in regional and international arenas.

KPL