Lao Foreign Minister Calls On Secretary Cayetano During Official Visit to the Philippines
14 July 2017- The Foreign Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) His Excellency Saleumxay Kommasith went on an Official Visit to the Philippines on 12-14 July 2017 upon the invitation of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano.
The Lao Foreign Minister called on Secretary Cayetano on 12 July where they discussed the status of the overall bilateral ties between the Philippines and Lao PDR, and regional issues of mutual concern between the countries. Laos was the immediate preceding Chair of ASEAN last year, prior to the turnover of the Chairmanship to the Philippines in 2017.
The mood of the call was convivial as both top diplomats shared close affinity being the two youngest foreign ministers in ASEAN.
Later in the evening, the Secretary and his spouse, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, hosted a welcome dinner for the Foreign Minister and his spouse Alouny Kommasith, and the rest of the Lao PDR delegation.
On 13 July, Minister Kommasith headed the Lao PDR delegation to the Inaugural Meeting of the Philippines-Lao PDR Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC). With Secretary Cayetano as head of the Philippine delegation, various aspects of the bilateral relations were discussed with Laos, including the great potential for expanding tourism and trade and investments through possible mutual agreements on Air Services and Investment Promotion and Protection, respectively.
The Philippine and Lao top diplomats further witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Academic Cooperation in Higher Education between the Philippines‘ Commission on Higher Education and Laos‘ Ministry of Education and Sports.
Thereafter, the Lao Foreign Minister also met with the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP) to discuss mutual opportunities in construction and infrastructure development.
As the final activity of his Official Visit, on 14 July, Minister Kommasith delivered a lecture on Laos and Regional Integration at the DFA’s Foreign Service Institute. END