President U.Khurelsukh of Mongolia and President Thongloun Sisoulith of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic held official talks at the Presidential Palace in Vientiane on November 6, 2023. President U.Khurelsukh is on a State Visit following the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Laos, and the discussions were held in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

At the start of the meeting, President U.Khurelsukh expressed gratitude to the Laotian state, government, and people for their warm welcome and hospitality extended to the Mongolian delegation. President Thongloun Sisoulith, in turn, expressed confidence that the Mongolian President’s State Visit to Laos would significantly expand traditional friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries and strengthen people-to-people ties.

Acknowledging the longstanding tradition of mutual support between the peoples of Mongolia and Laos, especially during challenging times, President Thongloun Sisoulith expressed gratitude for Mongolia’s steadfast support for Laos’s independence and sovereignty amid global, regional, and national changes.

The two leaders exchanged views on advancing traditional friendly relations in politics, defense, road and transport, agriculture, education, and health. They also discussed comprehensive issues, including cooperation in international and regional arenas. As the Heads of State of landlocked and developing countries, the two Presidents expressed commitment to enriching relations between the two countries with trade and economic content and intensifying bilateral cooperation in the future.

The Presidents agreed to further expand the scope of bilateral relations over the next six decades, deepening cooperation in areas such as trade, economy, agricultural products, tourism, and transport logistics.

Both parties expressed confidence that the “Agreement on Cooperation in Animal Quarantine and Veterinary Medicine” and the “Agreement on Cooperation in Plant Quarantine and Protection,” signed during the State Visit, would play a pivotal role in boosting bilateral cooperation in food, agriculture, trade, and the economy.

President U.Khurelsukh underscored the significance of the “Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on Aviation Relations,” aimed at broadening cooperation opportunities in air transport, creating a favorable legal environment for passenger and cargo transportation, and facilitating reciprocal travel for citizens.

Acknowledging the growing interest among Mongolians to travel to Southeast Asian countries, the parties agreed to foster mutually beneficial cooperation by augmenting citizen exchanges. They also synergized the implementation of the Mongolian Government’s “Years to Visit Mongolia” (2023-2025) and the Laos Government’s designation of 2024 as the “Year of Tourism.”

The importance of the “Agreement on Cooperation in Tourism” was emphasized in deepening people-to-people ties between Mongolia and Laos, supporting cooperation between tour operators, and mutually promoting the culture and traditions of both countries.

Highlighting the Mongolian-Laotian Business Forum organized during the visit, the parties considered it crucial in bolstering mutually beneficial cooperation and enriching trade, investment, and economic collaboration.

The two Heads of State underscored the importance of the “Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment” in addressing environmental challenges caused by climate change, desertification, soil, water, and air pollution, and mining industrialization.

Emphasizing the friendly relations between the two countries to support each other and actively cooperate in the regional and international arena, the Presidents affirmed their commitment to elevating collaboration within the UN and other international organizations.

President U.Khurelsukh congratulated President Thongloun Sisoulith on Lao PDR’s honorable role as ASEAN Chair in 2024 and expressed gratitude for Laos’s commitment to supporting Mongolia’s bid to become an ASEAN dialogue partner and join regional integrations, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

As an outcome of the official talks, the two sides signed a bilateral document to strengthen the legal environment between the two countries.