High ranking officials from Laos and the United States pledged last week to deepen bilateral cooperation and signed an air-travel agreement during the highest-level visit to US by Lao officials since Lao PDR was proclaimed in 1975. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Thongloun Sisoulith visited the US from July 12-14 and met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in response to an invitation from Mrs Clinton. At the discussions, both parties agreed that the current existing bilateral relationship and cooperation in various fields between the two nations is productive. Increasing exchanges and cooperation between the US and Laos “are producing mutual benefits and a constructive relationship, contributing to peace, stability and cooperation for development in the region and the world. The Unite State and Laos continue their longtime cooperation in the search for American soldiers missing from the Indochina War, on clearance of unexploded ordnance remaining from the drug abuse and illegal drug trafficking. More recently, the two countries have been working closely together on preventing the emergence of pandemic diseases, and continue to gradually expand military-to military cooperation following the exchange of defence attaches.
Source: Vientiane Times
