KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Laos will review the progress of their existing bilateral relations and discuss possibilities on how to strengthen relations in conjunction with the official visit of Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, Dr Thongloun will undertake his two-day official visit to Malaysia from Tuesday at the invitation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“The trade value between Malaysia and Laos has seen considerable increase these past years.
“In 2016, Malaysia’s total trade with Laos amounted to USD30.96 million (RM134.26 million) as compared to USD17.7 million (RM76.76 million) for the corresponding period in 2015.
“Malaysia was also the fifth largest foreign investor in Laos with a total of approximately USD1 billion (RM4.34 billion) worth of investments in Laos in 2016,” the ministry revealed in the statement.
It was also noted that there has been an increase of tourists from Laos with 31,061 arrivals in 2016 compared to 24,228 in 2015.
This is attributed to improved facilities and the increased availability of direct flights from Vientiane and Luang Prabang to Kuala Lumpur.
Dr Thongloun will be accompanied by several Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers and senior officials.
This marks Dr Thongloun’s first official visit in his capacity as the Prime Minister of Laos since April 20, 2016.
The Foreign Ministry added that the official programme of the visit will include a welcoming ceremony, a restricted meeting between both Prime Ministers, followed by a delegation meeting on
Tuesday.
It is expected that both leaders will discuss and exchange views on expanding economic cooperation as well as regional and international issues of common interest.
Also in the programme is an official luncheon hosted by Najib in honour of the Lao Prime Minister and his official delegation.
Dr Thongloun will also have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V on Tuesday afternoon.
Aside from that, the Laos Prime Minister is also scheduled to deliver his opening remarks at the Malaysia-Laos Business Forum.