Photo courtesy of the press service of the House of Representatives
MINSK, 19 October (BelTA) – Belarus and Laos have no disagreements on bilateral, regional and international agendas, Chairman of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeyenko said as he met with Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, BelTA has learned.
Igor Sergeyenko congratulated the prime minister of Laos on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belarus and Laos, which was marked on 7 February 2024. He stressed that Belarus views Laos as one of key partners in the ASEAN region. “Our countries have no disagreements on bilateral, regional and international agendas,” the Belarusian parliament speaker emphasized.
He expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation will maintain momentum. The parties explored the possibility to expand trade and economic relations, discussed Laos' initiative to hold the next meeting of the Joint Cooperation Commission and highlighted the need to intensify interaction between the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Igor Sergeyenko emphasized that Belarusian enterprises are ready to meet the needs of the economy of Laos, are interested in finding reliable partners and launching joint ventures. Belarus is ready to supply Laos with dry milk and other foodstuffs, medicines, motorcycles and bicycles. Belarus is also interested in purchasing natural rubber for its tire industry, as well as coffee and fruits.
The participants of the meeting also discussed cooperation prospects in education and culture, in particular, the training of Lao students in Belarus and resumption of the Culture Days in Minsk and Vientiane. They also pointed to the need to strengthen cooperation within international organizations in order to promote initiatives that seek to promote peace, stability and mutually beneficial and equal economic cooperation.
A reminder, the Belarusian parliamentary delegation headed by Chairman of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeyenko is paying an official visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic. On 19 October, Igor Sergeyenko is expected to speak at the first plenary session of the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.
The Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (AIPA) was established in 1977. Currently, ASEAN has 10 member states: Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. The AIPA has 23 observers. The parliament of Belarus received the observer status in September 2011 in Phnom Penh (Kingdom of Cambodia) at the 32nd AIPA General Assembly. This gave Belarus an access to a platform for a permanent dialogue with the member countries of the organization on economic, political, social and humanitarian issues.
Belarusian MPs regularly participate in events organized by the AIPA, including the annual AIPA General Assembly.
Follow us on:
