Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit (APWS) to discuss the conflict in Ukraine and other matters.
Prime Minister Phankham arrived in Kumamoto, Japan on Friday morning in response to an invitation by the Japanese prime minister to attend the APWS, held from 23 to 24 April.
The summit, which was held under the theme ‘Water for Sustainable Development: Best Practices and the Next Generation’, was attended by Heads of State representing 48 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Summit discussed various water-related issues, as well as how to implement the recommendations made under the “Yangon Declaration” adopted at the 3rd Asia-Pacific Summit in 2017 in Myanmar.
I had my first face-to-face meeting with Dr. Phankham Viphavanh, Prime Minister of #LaoPDR, in Kumamoto City today. We had an exchange of views about not only #Japan-Lao PDR relations but also the situation in #Ukraine, (5/6) pic.twitter.com/ZLzGfkakUT
— PM’s Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) April 23, 2022
Japanese PM Holds Talks with PM Phankham
While attending the Summit, Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh spoke at length with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, marking the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since PM Phankham took office on 22 March last year.
KPL reports that the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work together and continue to promote friendship, sound cooperation, and strategic partnership between Laos and Japan, and to further the Action Plan for Advancement of Strategic Partnership between Laos and Japan.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Kishida said during the meeting that, “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an act contrary to the respect for the unity of sovereignty and territory,” stating that Russia must listen to the voices of the international community.
Prime Minister Phankham responded that he is closely watching the situation in Ukraine and sincerely hopes for an easing of tensions and an immediate ceasefire.
After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of letters of exchange for an agreement on a Grant Aid for Human Resources Development Scholarship Plan.
