Minister Saleumxay Kommasith (left) and Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh display signed Memorandums of Understanding. -- Lao News Agency
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Laos and Mongolia have agreed to enhance ties and broaden cooperation following talks between their Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which took place in Mongolia.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith led a Lao delegation on a visit to Mongolia from Sept 2-5 at the invitation of his Mongolian counterpart, Battsetseg Batmunkh.
The two ministers agreed to bolster cooperation in trade, investment and tourism, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported in a press statement.
In addition, the ministers agreed to encourage Mongolian companies to do more business with Laos to make use of growing connectivity facilitated by the Laos-China Railway.
The ministers said they highly valued the growing traditional friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries over the past six decades since the countries established diplomatic ties (Sept 12, 1962-Sept 12, 2022).
During this time, the two countries have arranged reciprocal visits by government delegations of various levels.
The ministers reviewed implementation of the outcomes of the 11th Joint Commission meeting on Bilateral Cooperation between Laos and Mongolia, which took place in 2018.
Cooperation between the two countries has broadened, especially in the fields of public health, education and agriculture, and between the two national assemblies and Parties.
Although bilateral cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, investment and tourism remains relatively low, the relevant sectors in the two countries have strived to encourage closer ties.
Laos and Mongolia have extended mutual assistance and support to one another in the regional and international arenas, especially through the Landlocked Developing Countries framework.
The Lao side expressed pleasure at hosting the 12th Joint Commission meeting on Bilateral Cooperation between Laos and Mongolia in December this year, which will be chaired by the health ministers of both countries.
Saleumxay and Batmunkh agreed to hold activities to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
They also briefed one another about the progress of development in their respective countries.
After their talks, the ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two ministries of foreign affairs.
The ministers also witnessed the signing of an agreement on the provision of education scholarships between Laos and Mongolia from 2022-2027.
Through Minister Batmunkh, Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay on behalf of the Lao government presented a Friendship Medal to the Mongolian government in acknowledgement of the donation of 1,050 sheep to Laos in 2018.
During his visit, Saleumxay also called on President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh and the chairman of the State Great Khural, Gombojav Zandanshatar.
