ASTANA, Kazakhstan: Laos and Kazakhstan have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation across politics, trade and investment, transport, energy, education and digital development, following President Thongloun Sisoulith’s historic visit to Kazakhstan, the first by a Lao head of state.
President Thongloun and his Kazakhstan counterpart, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, held official talks in Astana on Thursday (Sept 3) to review bilateral relations and identify areas for deeper cooperation.
The leaders witnessed the signing of four cooperation documents, and adopted a Joint Statement reaffirming their commitment to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The agreements comprise a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on political consultations, an MoU for cooperation between the top prosecutorial agencies of the two sides, an MoU on cooperation in information and communications technology and e-government, and an MoU for establishing a friendship-city relationship between Vientiane and Astana.
The agreements were finalised during President Thongloun’s official visit to Kazakhstan during September 3-4, made at the invitation of President Tokayev. This was the first-ever visit to Kazakhstan by a Lao president at the head of state level, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations.
During their meeting at the Palace of Independence in Astana, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the development of Laos-Kazakhstan relations, describing the ties as being based on mutual respect and trust and expanding through bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
They greed to maintain regular exchanges of visits between senior leaders and officials and promote cooperation in politics, economy, trade and investment, transport, energy, education, culture and social affairs.
The two sides further agreed to strengthen cooperation between the Supreme People’s Prosecutor’s Office of Laos and its Kazakh counterpart, and to continue supporting each other at regional and international forums, particularly the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
President Thongloun expressed gratitude to the government and people of Kazakhstan for their longstanding support for Laos, particularly in personnel training dating back to the Soviet era.
He said this support had contributed to human resource development and become an important force in Laos’ efforts to safeguard and develop the country.
President Thongloun also invited President Tokayev to visit Laos in 2027, when the two countries will mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Beyond the presidential talks, President Thongloun held a courtesy meeting with Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and visited several institutions in Astana, including the Astana International Financial Centre, the International Centre for Artificial Intelligence and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.
He also visited L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, where he delivered a lecture to faculty members and students and was conferred the title of Honorary Professor.
The visit also included tours of major cultural and tourist attractions, including the National Museum of Kazakhstan, the Monument to the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, and an art museum.
Laos and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations in 1997. The latest high-level visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to expanding bilateral cooperation as the two countries prepare to celebrate three decades of diplomatic ties in 2027. - Vientiane Times/ANN
