Visit by Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence & Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman to Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic

Senior Minister of State (SMS), Ministry of Defence & Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman visited Vientiane, Laos from 24 to 25 June 2019. SMS Maliki met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith and Minister of National Defence GEN Chansamone Chayalath. During both meetings, SMS reaffirmed the warm and friendly ties between Singapore and Laos. 2019 marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. SMS also discussed areas in which both sides could step up cooperation, including investment promotion, enhancing regional connectivity, and human resource development. In the meetings, the Ministers also expressed satisfaction at the growing people to people ties, and noted the frequent visits by Singaporean youth groups to Laos for community projects and exchanges.

On 24 June, SMS Maliki officiated at the opening ceremony of the newly-upgraded Laos-Singapore Cooperation Centre (LSCC), formerly the Laos-Singapore Training Centre, with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongphane Savanphet, who also hosted SMS Maliki to lunch. The LSCC, which was one of the deliverables for Singapore’s 2018 ASEAN Chairmanship, underscores Singapore’s longstanding commitment to supporting the development needs of Laos and narrowing the development gap in ASEAN.

SMS Maliki Osman was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

25 JUNE 2019