Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Saleumxay Kommasith's Engagements with Singapore Leaders, 7 December 2023

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) Saleumxay Kommasith is on a working visit to Singapore to deliver the 24^th ASEAN Lecture on Laos’ ASEAN Chairmanship 2024 at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay was hosted to lunch by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat and called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He also met a group of Lao senior officials who are in Singapore for a capacity building programme.

During their meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay, Prime Minister Lee and Deputy Prime Minister Heng reaffirmed the warm relations between Singapore and Laos, which are underpinned by regular high-level visits and growing people-to-people ties. Our leaders welcomed the commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Laos in 2024. They exchanged views with Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay on stepping up bilateral cooperation, including in new growth areas such as renewable energy and the digital economy.

Prime Minister Lee and Deputy Prime Minister Heng pledged Singapore’s support for Laos’ ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024, including through the Singapore-Laos Enhanced Cooperation Package (SLECP). Prime Minister Lee and Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay discussed Laos’ ASEAN Chairmanship priorities and challenges in 2024, and the importance of maintaining ASEAN Centrality and unity. Deputy Prime Minister Heng said that the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP) demonstrated the feasibility of multilateral power trading in the region and encouraged Laos to make further progress towards the realisation of an ASEAN Power Grid.

Prime Minister Lee and Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay also discussed Singapore and Laos’ shared emphasis on human resource development. Prime Minister Lee noted that many Lao officials had attended courses under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). He encouraged more Lao officials to participate in the relevant SCP courses.

Prior to his meeting with Prime Minister Lee, Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay met 19 senior Lao officials attending the English Language Training for Senior Lao Officials programme at the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation Regional Language Centre (SEAMEO RELC). The officials are in Singapore for a month-long training programme organised under the SCP. Singapore is committed to support Laos’ human capital development through training courses under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI).

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

7 DECEMBER 2023

Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat’s lunch with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, 7 December 2023.

Photo Credit: Ministry of Communications and Information

Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith calls on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,  7 December 2023.

Photo Credit: Ministry of Communications and Information

Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith calls on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,  7 December 2023.

Photo Credit: Ministry of Communications and Information

Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith with English Language Training for Senior Laotian Officials (ELTSLO) course participants and officials from MFA and the SEAMEO Regional Language Centre on 7 December 2023.

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith (right) speaking with Governor of Vientiane Dr Athsaphangthong Siphandone (left) at the SEAMEO Regional Language Centre on 7 December 2023.

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith interacting with senior Lao officials at the SEAMEO Regional Language Centre on 7 December 2023.

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore