Laos-US Comprehensive Partnership -- a foundation to grow ties, cooperation

Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith (left) and US Ambassador to Laos Dr Peter M. Haymond attend a ceremony to mark the 5th US-Lao Comprehensive Partnership.

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Five years ago, then President Bounnhang Vorachit and his visiting US counterpart Barack Obama agreed to elevate bilateral relations into a full Comprehensive Partnership.

The elevated ties have demonstrated that both sides of the partnership are determined to leave behind a painful history and choose to grow together. The partnership has guided and strengthened Lao-US relations for the past five years, and will continue well into the future.