Laos, India broaden collaboration

Senior officials from Laos and India agreed to increase wide-ranging cooperation between the two nations at the 6th meeting of the Laos-India Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation in India last week.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two countries will boost collaboration in the fields of politics, economics, trade, investment, education, culture, public health, communications and tourism.

The agreement was signed by Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, and Indian Minister of External Affairs, Mr S. M. Krishna.

At the meeting both sides evaluated relations and cooperation between the two countries and how they could be improved and expanded, through both bilateral and multilateral initiatives, to further boost the nations' standing on the regional and international stage.

Both parties expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of activities implemented since the commission's last meeting in Vientiane in 2006.

During the visit to India , Dr Thongloun led a delegation on a visit to Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Dr Thongloun passed on messages from the Lao President, Vice President and Prime Minister to their respective Indian counterparts. He thanked the government and people of India for their support and assistance, especially in natural disaster relief, human resources training and the provision of low-interest loans.

Such assistance and support contributes significantly to socio-economic development efforts in Laos , he said.

The senior Indian officials also passed on messages thanking Lao leaders for their support, both regionally and internationally.

Indian officials also agreed to consider how a low-interest loan could be provided to Laos for four projects to develop electricity transmission lines.

Also discussed was a proposed Indian government loan for agricultural development projects in four provinces of Laos .

Dr Thongloun and his delegation were in India from February 1 to 3.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update February 9 , 2010)