(KPL) President Bounnhang Vorachit on Thursday held a bilateral meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Tony Tan Keng Yam who is on a three-day official visit to strengthen ties and cooperation between the two countries.

At the meeting, which was also joined by senior officials of the two countries, President Yam praised the Lao PDR’s chairmanship of ASEAN and its success in hosting the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane Capital last September.

President Bounnhang expressed gratitude to the Singaporean government upon its support extended to Laos when it took the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2016.

Both sides noted that the two countries have recorded noticeable events including the launch of direct flights between Singapore and Vientiane and Luang Prabang by Silkair, and the signing of an agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation between the two countries.

Over recent years, Singapore has provided assistance to support human resource development in Laos through provisions of scholarships for long and short term training courses in Laos and Singapore.

More than 1,500 Lao nationals have been granted Singaporean government scholarship since 2008. Meanwhile, several schools have been provided funding for new buildings by the Singaporean government. 

Several hundreds of Singaporean volunteers have been sent to Laos mostly to work in the health sector.

Both sides also recognized the contribution of Singaporean investors to socio-economic development in Laos.

The two presidents also shared points of view on regional and international issues of common interest.

Laos and Singapore established diplomatic ties in 1974.  Since then, there has been a steady stream of high-level exchanges.

Singapore’s President is expected to meet with Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and visit the University of Health Sciences where he will learn about the technical assistance given by the staff of the Singapore International Foundation and Singapore Health Services in improving the quality of physiotherapy education in Laos.

The visiting president is also expected to visit That Luang - the golden Buddhist stupa, and attend a reception for Singaporeans in Laos before visiting Luang Prabang Province. 

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by Soukthavy Thephavong

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