Lao Deputy PM meets US Secretary of State in Myanmar
Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Thongloun Sisoulith met with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Saturday to discuss how to consolidate their bilateral ties.
The talk was held on the sideline of the 47th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-47) and related meetings, which successfully wrapped up in Nay Pyi Taw on Sunday.
Mr John Kerry met Mr Thongloun before a meeting of the Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) in Nay Pyi Taw on August 9.
Both sides praised the strong growth in the Lao-US relations and discussed ways to further deepen their cooperation and bilateral relationship, according to a press release from the US Embassy in Vientiane.
Secretary Kerry also thanked the Foreign Minister for Laos’ offer to host an Extraordinary FLM meeting, which would address the environmental and social aspects of the Mekong development, including smart infrastructure, hydropower and alternative energy.
During the subsequent FLM meeting, Secretary Kerry also expressed gratitude for Lao-US cooperation on hydropower issues, including Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong projects on fisheries, sediment and dam safety.
The Friends of the Lower Mekong is a broad dialogue that improves donor coordination in the Mekong sub-region and supports integrated cooperation between and among Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the US.
Participating FLM members include: Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the European Union, Asian Development Bank and World Bank.
