Japanese Ambassador to Laos Tsutomu Koizumi hosted a reception on 25 June to strengthen ties between Japan and Luang Prabang following the visit of Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko to the UNESCO World Heritage city last November.
Princess Aiko’s visit took place during her official trip to Laos to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. According to the Japanese Embassy, the visit significantly increased public interest in Laos, particularly Luang Prabang, among people in Japan.
The reception aimed to build on that momentum by promoting future exchanges between Japan and Luang Prabang.
Among those attending were Bounleuam Manivong, Member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Luang Prabang Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Luang Prabang Provincial People’s Council, along with other invited guests.
During the event, Ambassador Koizumi expressed his gratitude to the people of Luang Prabang for welcoming Princess Aiko during her visit. He also highlighted the longstanding relationship between Japan and Luang Prabang, including the dispatch of nearly 100 Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) to the province.
The Ambassador said he hopes exchanges and cooperation between Japan and Luang Prabang will continue to deepen in the years ahead.
The reception also featured congratulatory messages from Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture and Moriya City in Ibaraki Prefecture, both of which maintain longstanding ties with Luang Prabang.
Editor’s Note: This article is part of The Laotian Times Public Diplomacy section and was contributed by the Japanese Embassy in Laos. Views and information presented are those of the contributing organization.
