Laos, Australia agree to strengthen bilateral relations
Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong agreed to work together to strengthen relations and expand cooperation between the two countries, local media reported on May 16.
Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith (R) shakes hand with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Vientiane on May 15, 2023 (Photo://kpl.gov.la/)
Vientiane (VNA) – Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister ofForeign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wongagreed to work together to strengthen relations and expand cooperation betweenthe two countries, local media reported on May 16.
Wong is a two-day official visit to Laos to expand cooperation and strengthen the bilateral relations at the invitation of Saleumxay.
The Lao media quoted a press release of the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that at their talks, the officialsdiscussed future cooperation fields, reaffirmed the intention to upgrade relationsand cooperation between the two nations to comprehensive partnership as soon aspossible, and spoke highly of the growing cooperation relationship between thetwo countries since Laos and Australia established diplomatic ties on January15, 1952.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional andglobal issues of common concern, and agreed to continue cooperation and mutual supportat regional and global forums.
Local mediasaid Australia is the third largest provider of official development assistance(ODA) to Laos, covering many areas such as education, human resources development, infrastructure development, unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance,and issues within ASEAN.
After the talks, Wong and Lao Minister of Energy and MinesPhoxay Sayasone signed the Laos-Australia Sustainable Energy PartnershipAgreement in the presence of Saleumxay.
Within the framework of her trip, the Australian official paid acourtesy visit to Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and met with head of the LaoPeople's Revolutionary Party CentralCommittee's Commission for External RelationsThongsavanh Phomvihane./.
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Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith (R) shakes hand with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Vientiane on May 15, 2023 (Photo://kpl.gov.la/) 
