Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic paid a courtesy call on President U.Khurelsukh, who is on a State Visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic from November 5 to 7, 2023. President U.Khurelsukh emphasized that Mongolia’s foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region gives high priority to fostering relations and cooperation with Southeast Asian countries. He affirmed a commitment to expanding mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
The Mongolian President noted that the official talks with President Thongloun Sisoulith were successful and efficient, expressing confidence that the governments of the two countries will closely collaborate to implement agreements reached during the visit.
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone acknowledged the steady growth of bilateral relations and cooperation between Lao PDR and Mongolia over the past six decades. He highlighted the solemn celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2022. Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone underscored that President U.Khurelsukh’s current visit will play a pivotal role in determining the prospects of bilateral relations for the next sixty years, defining the directions of future cooperation, and significantly contributing to the further expansion and strengthening of ties.
The two sides commended the activities of the Mongolia-Lao Intergovernmental Commission, a vital mechanism for discussing relations and cooperation between the two countries, noting the importance of strengthening concrete cooperation in trade, economy, and investment through the mechanism.
The two sides engaged in discussions regarding the expansion and development of trade and economic cooperation, emphasizing the need to increase the volume and variety of exported and imported goods and to cooperate in food and agricultural production. President U.Khurelsukh and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone affirmed readiness to enhance collaboration between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the two countries, supporting stronger ties between entrepreneurs and manufacturers.
The parties commended that during the visit, a number of bilateral agreements on cooperation were concluded as part of strengthening the legal environment for the development of bilateral relations. The parties expressed eagerness to organize a trilateral meeting at the level of the ministers of transport of Mongolia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and the People’s Republic of China to further increase trade turnover, facilitate transportation, and actively cooperate to coordinate transit ports by railway.