PM to visit Brunei to strengthen bilateral cooperation

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith will lead government officials on an official visit to Brunei from February 16-17.
The two-day visit by Mr Thongloun and his delegation is in response to an invitation from His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
The purpose of the visit is to further strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation between the Lao PDR and Brunei Darussalam, according to an announcement from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the second meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between the Lao PDR and Brunei Darussalam held in Luang Prabang last year, which was attended by Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei, Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, the two countries agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations, including in the fields of human resource development, air transport, drug control, labour, cultural exchange, and women’s development.
In addition, the meeting encouraged the chambers of commerce and industry of the Lao PDR and Brunei to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and hold a meeting of the economics sector when Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith paid an official visit to Brunei. 
Since Laos and Brunei established diplomatic relations on July 27, 1993, friendly relations and close cooperation have continued to flourish in the areas of education, sports and trade.
Brunei has an embassy in Vientiane, and Laos has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan.
The two countries praised the extension of the visa waiver agreement for Lao and Brunei citizens holding diplomatic, official and regular passports from 14 to 30 days.
In previous years, the government of Brunei supported Laos’ hosting of the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM-9) Summit in 2012 and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summits in Vientiane in 2004 and 2016, as well as human resource development, building of schools, and sports development.

By Sisay Vilaysack
(Latest Update February 14, 2019)