(KPL) The Prime Ministers of Japan and Laos on May 14 agreed to step up bilateral negotiations on an investment treaty that is expected to boost Japanese investment into Laos During the talk, two leaders reviewed on a half-century of friendship relations between two countries and discussed to further bilateral friendship relations and other challenged regional and International issues.
PM Abe has reaffirmed on the important value of region such as freedom, democracy, the basic of human rights, rule of law, and good governance for prosperity of economy in the long term period.
PM Bouasone expressed congratulations to Japan for its world peace keeping role made since the end of second world war. This included the assistance of Japan to Laos. PM Abe expressed thanks to Laos for its kindly support provided to Japan in International affairs.
Concerning the bilateral co-operation, the leaders agreed that the Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA), trade and investment from Japanese private sector are key factor for sustainable economic expansion of Laos. PM Bouasone also expressed thanks and gratitude for great assistance offered to Laos by Japan and confirmed his decision to continue to reform Lao economic by Lao people.
In order to promote the role of investment for supporting the development, PM Bouasone expressed concern to create the good conditions for the investment in Laos including law, regulations and procedures related to the investment in Laos. The leaders agreed to negotiate on investment agreement and agreed to organise forum between private sector of Laos and Japan at the end of this year.
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe pledged to provide 1 million USD to clear UXO in Laos which is a main constrains for socio-economic development in Laos.
It was also decided through the talks that some 1,000 Lao youths will be invited to Japan over the next five years in a youth exchange programme.
The leaders also agreed that the increasing of Japanese tourists to Laos would be a big contribution to further the understanding between Laos and Japan as well as to the national development of Laos.
PM Abe congratulated Lao government for its decision to offer short visa exemption for Japanese tourists.
PM Bouasone declared to send high ranking delegation of Laos to Japan for feasibility study on establishing the Lao tourism office in Japan.
The two leaders also agreed that a six party deal on denuclearisation in the Korean Peninsula must be implemented promptly.
PM Bouasone also invited PM Abe to visit Laos and PM Abe also thanked for the invitation and will consider the time to visit Laos.
