Lao, Swedish agreement boosts diplomatic cooperation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that aimed to enhance cooperation between the two ministries and countries.
Lao Ambassador to Sweden, Mr Bounpheng Saykanya represented Laos and State Secretary to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ms Annika Soder represented Sweden at the signing ceremony held at the Swedish ministry office in Stockholm.

“The MOU signing is important in broadening and strengthening the cooperation between the two ministries as well as between Laos and the Kingdom of Sweden,” the Lao ministry stated in a press release.
After the signing, the Lao ambassador and Swedish minister shared their opinions of diplomatic activities that involved bilateral relations.
Ambassador Bounpheng thanked  Ms Soder and the Swedes for giving importance to bilateral cooperation.  She thanked the Lao ambassador for his enthusiasm in this diplomatic mission.
The Lao Embassy in Stockholm late last month handed three traditional Lao costumes to the Ethnography Museum (Ethnografiska Museet) in the Swedish capital.
Lao Ambassador, Mr Bounpheng Saykanya, Director General of the Swedish National Museum of World Culture, Ms Ann Follin, and diplomats in Stockholm attended the handover ceremony.
The handmade clothes consisted of two female costumes and one male costume decorated with Luang Prabang embroidery patterns.
In her opening remarks, Ms Follin noted the importance of conserving the culture of nations around the world, including Lao culture.
She gave an example of some materials the museum had collected from Laos. Lao Ambassador Bounpheng Saykanya spoke about the importance of Lao weaving, traditional clothing, and embroidery.
Also speaking at the event, United Nations official Ms Fabia Margurita Midman, who gave advice on handling materials for the museum, noted the importance of cultural diplomacy, saying it was a channel to strengthen relations between the two countries.
“Granting the clothes to the museum is a way to promote and protect the long-standing cultural traditions and fine customs of the Lao nation in Sweden and around the world while contributing to strengthening the cooperation ties between Laos and Sweden,” the press release from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update June 14, 2019)