President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith paid a visit to Japan’s Emperor Naruhito on Thursday during his official trip to attend the Future of Asia Conference in Tokyo.
KPL reports that the Japanese Emperor welcomed and appreciated Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, the President of Laos, and his delegation for visiting Japan to participate in the conference, thereby enhancing the relations and cooperation between the two countries.
The Lao leader expressed his gratitude to the Japanese government and people for their support in the areas of human resources, public health, infrastructure, agriculture, UXO clearance, and the Covid-19 response in Laos.
During the visit, President Thongloun said that Japanese business investment in Laos has increased in the fields of agriculture, the processing industry, and hospitality services which have contributed to employment in Laos and also boosted its economy.
Additionally, the number of Japanese tourists visiting Laos has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic, while Japan has become a popular tourist destination for Laotians. As a result, direct flights between the two countries were also discussed.
President Thongloun reaffirmed his strong commitment to continue the relations and cooperation between Laos and Japan for further developments in the future.
In 2025, the two nations will celebrate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, which were established on 5 March 1955. The Lao President has also extended an invitation to the Japanese monarch to attend the celebration.
President Thongloun Sisoulith is currently attending the Future of Asia Conference in Tokyo, one of the most important global conferences in Asia, which is being held under the slogan, “Leveraging Asia’s Power to Confront Global Challenges” from 25-26 May.
