Lee Hosts Luncheon with Lao President and First Lady... "A New Chapter for Bilateral Relations in the Next 30 Years"

[Financial News] On the 15th, President Lee Jae-myung hosted an official luncheon at the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea for President Thongloun Sisoulith and the First Lady of Laos, expressing his commitment to deepening Korea-Laos ties into a 'comprehensive partnership.'
In his welcoming remarks, President Lee noted, "This year marks the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos), the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, and the 50th anniversary of the founding of Laos. Today, President Thongloun and I agreed to elevate our bilateral relations to a 'comprehensive partnership' and to open a new era for the next 30 years."
He continued, "Over the past 30 years, trade between our two countries has increased nearly twentyfold, and annual people-to-people exchanges have reached a record high of about 240,000. Around 16,000 Lao workers and more than 200 Lao students are currently in Korea. Ultimately, relations between countries begin with relationships between people," he emphasized.
On development cooperation, President Lee explained, "Based on Korea’s experience of rising from the ruins of war, we aim to support Laos in areas such as rural development, disaster prevention, and healthcare." He added, "Projects like the Mekong Riverside Integrated Management Project and the children's hospital supported by Korea are transforming the lives of the Lao people."
He also remarked, "Laos is actively pursuing its vision to become a middle-income country and a land-linked nation by 2030. President Thongloun’s vision of turning the limitations of a landlocked country into opportunities as a transport and logistics hub is truly impressive. Just as Korea has turned its peninsular geography into an advantage, our two countries share the spirit of turning challenges into opportunities."
President Lee stated, "Buddha once said that meeting a good companion is equivalent to accomplishing everything in practice. As we embark on another 30 years together, I hope Korea and Laos will continue to develop their relationship as good companions," proposing a toast.
In his response, President Thongloun Sisoulith said, "It is a great pleasure and honor to officially visit the Republic of Korea (ROK) as the head of the Lao People's Democratic Republic’s high-level delegation. I am confident that elevating our bilateral relations to a 'comprehensive partnership' during this visit will serve as an important milestone for deepening and expanding our friendship and cooperation." He added, "The ROK is a key development cooperation partner for Laos. Korea’s support in human resource development, healthcare, infrastructure expansion, and unexploded ordnance removal has greatly contributed to Laos’s economic development."

west@fnnews.com Sung Seok-woo Reporter