VIENTIANE: Laos and Japan are strengthening cooperation in key economic sectors, including clean energy, technology, agriculture, tourism and modern industries, as part of efforts to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and promote sustainable growth.
Bilateral cooperation in these sectors figured in talks on Wednesday between Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo. They met on the margins of the 31st Nikkei International Conference on the Future of Asia.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expand economic cooperation, trade and investment, with the focus on sectors that can drive innovation, energy security and long-term development. They also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Takaichi congratulated Sonexay on his re-election in March and expressed appreciation to the Lao government and people for the hospitality extended to Japan’s Princess Aiko during her official visit to Laos in November 2025, her first official overseas trip.
She also welcomed the success of the 2026 Lao Festival in Tokyo, which strengthened cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Sonexay congratulated Takaichi on her re-election in February and commended Japan for successfully hosting the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Plus Online Summit on energy resilience in April.
He expressed support for the POWERR Asia (Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia) initiative proposed by Japan to advance regional energy cooperation and resilience.
He reiterated Laos’ commitment to strengthen its long-standing friendship and cooperation with Japan, both bilaterally and through regional mechanisms such as Asean-Japan cooperation.
He expressed gratitude for Japan’s longstanding development assistance, which has supported Laos in areas such as human resource development, infrastructure, public health, agriculture and forestry, as well as the deployment of JICA experts and volunteers. Particular appreciation was extended for Japan’s continued support for unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance efforts in Laos.
Sonexay invited Japan to send a high-level representative to attend the 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (3RC-CCM), which Laos will host in Vientiane in September. He also invited Ms Takaichi to visit Laos at a mutually convenient time.
During his visit to Japan, Sonexay also met members of the Japan-Laos Parliamentary Friendship Association, representatives of the International Friendship Exchange Council (FEC), and Japanese business leaders, and participated in an exchange forum between the Lao and Japanese business communities.
The meetings highlighted the growing momentum in Laos-Japan relations as both countries work to expand economic opportunities, strengthen regional cooperation and address shared development challenges. - Vientiane Times/ANN
