Laos, Australia seek to elevate ties to comprehensive partnership

The foreign ministers of Laos and Australia met on Monday to discuss the elevation of their bilateral ties to a comprehensive partnership to further strengthen the longstanding cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting took place in Australia when Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Saleumxay Kommasith discussed the matter with Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong.
Mr Saleumxay paid an official visit to Australia from October 9-11 as part of activities to celebrate 70 years of the two countries’ diplomatic relations.

Mr Saleumxay Kommasith (right) and Australian foreign minister Penny Wong meet for talks in Australia.

The two ministers agreed to further broaden their partnership in economics and trade, investment, and tourism by pushing for greater collaboration between the two countries’ chambers of commerce and industry.
The move will facilitate investment cooperation and business partnership in areas relating to mining, agriculture, education, banking and energy, according to the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The two sides agreed to support one another in the regional and international arenas, notably within frameworks associated with the United Nations and other international bodies.
Serving as Asean Country Coordinator for Australia from 2021-2024, Laos pledged to push for strong cooperation between Asean and Australia in the near future.
According to the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Wong reiterated Australia’s support as Laos prepares for its Asean Chair Year in 2024.
“I also discussed our shared commitment to Asean centrality, and our strategic interest in maintaining a region which is peaceful, stable, prosperous, and where sovereignty is respected,” the foreign minister said.
“Australia remains determined to work closely with our partners in Southeast Asia to respond to regional challenges including climate change and economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic,” she added.
During the talks, the two leaders said they highly valued the development of their longstanding friendly ties and tradition of cooperation following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1952.
 Laos and Australia consistently develop and maintain the effectiveness of their friendly relations and engagement, which is reflected in the reciprocal visits made by delegations of various levels.
 The Australian government provided financial support for the construction of the first Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River, which opened on April 24, 1994.
 The opening of the bridge, which spans 1,170 metres across the river from Vientiane to Nong Khai, not only marked the start of Laos’ land connectivity with Thailand but kicked off a new era in Lao development, regional peace and international cooperation, with Australia as a key player.
 Australia is a key development partner for Laos, providing considerable official development assistance (ODA) to support human resource development, infrastructure, rural development, health, unexploded ordnance clearance, the fight against trafficking in persons, and public security. 

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update October 12, 2022)