L-R: Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs; Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic;
Credit: MAEE
Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn yesterday paid a working visit to Laos, to discuss bilateral relations between the two represented countries.
At the invitation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister Jean Asselborn paid a working visit to Vientiane on 13 June 2018. After being received by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Jean Asselborn had a working meeting with his counterpart, Saleumxay Kommasith, as well as an exchange of views with the Minister of Planning and Investment, Souphan Keomixay, the Minister of Health, Bounkong Sihavong, and Minister of Education and Sport, Sengdeuane Lachanhtaboun.
As Luxembourg and Laos celebrated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 2017, Minister Asselborn's exchange of views with the Lao authorities provided an opportunity to review the excellent bilateral relations, marked in particular by the opening of a Luxembourg Embassy in Vientiane in January 2016.
Similarly, since Luxembourg is an important partner for development cooperation in Laos, the discussions provided an opportunity to discuss the 2016-2020 indicative cooperation programme, which has a budget of €75 million in the fields of vocational training for tourism and hospitality, health and rural development.
Minister Asselborn's exchange of views with his Lao counterpart also raised the question of the relationship between the European Union and Laos, human rights and the fight against corruption, as well as the latest developments in ASEAN and the place of Laos in this regional architecture. The talks also addressed connectivity in Asia, as well as recent regional and international developments, including recent announcements on the Korean peninsula.
During his visit to Vientiane, Jean Asselborn also visited the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the University of Laos, supported by the Luxembourg development cooperation and which has a partnership with the University of Luxembourg. In front of a parterre of a hundred students and Laotian teachers, the head of Luxembourgish diplomacy delivered a speech on human rights and the rule of law. Similarly, he had the opportunity to visit some projects of Luxembourg cooperation, including the Lanith "Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality", the vocational training school for tourism and hospitality.
