Vientiane, November 7, 2023 /MONTSAME/. Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Sonexay Siphandone paid a courtesy call on President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, who is on a State Visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on November 5-7, 2023. 

President Khurelsukh underscored that Mongolia's foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region places a high priority on fostering relations and cooperation with Southeast Asian countries. He affirmed commitment to expanding mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation with the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Mongolian President noted that the official talks with the President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith were successful and efficient and expressed confidence that the Governments of the two countries will closely collaborate to implement agreements reached during the Visit.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone acknowledged the steady growth of bilateral relations and cooperation between Lao PDR and Mongolia over the past six decades and highlighted the solemn celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2022.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone underscored that the President of Mongolia's current visit will play a pivotal role in determining the prospects of bilateral relations between the two countries for the next sixty years, defining the directions of future cooperation, and significantly contributing to the further expansion and strengthening of ties.

The two sides commended the activities of the Mongolian-Laotian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation, which is developing as a vital mechanism for discussing relations and cooperation between the two countries, noting the importance of strengthening concrete cooperation between the two countries in trade, economy, and investment through the mechanism.

The two sides engaged in discussions regarding the expansion and development of trade and economic cooperation, emphasizing the need to increase the volume and variety of exported and imported goods and to cooperate in food and agricultural production. Mongolian President and Laotian Prime Minister affirmed readiness to enhance collaboration between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the two countries, supporting stronger ties between entrepreneurs and manufacturers.

The parties commended that during the Visit, a number of bilateral agreements on cooperation were concluded as part of strengthening the legal environment for the development of bilateral relations.

The parties expressed eagerness to organize a trilateral meeting at the level of the ministers of transport of Mongolia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and the People’s Republic of China to further increase trade turnover, facilitate transportation, and actively cooperate to coordinate transit ports by railway.