Roundup: Lao president's Myanmar visit enhances bilateral cooperation

Lao President Bounnhang Vorachitch's just-ended official goodwill visit to Myanmar has enhanced bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Vorachitch's Nay Pyi Taw visit was a reciprocal one to that of his Myanmar counterpart U Htin Kyaw to Vientiane in May.

During the one-day visit, the two top leaders had discussions on cooperation and promotion of peace and stability in border regions, resumption of Yangon-Vientiane and Luang Prrabang-Bagan direct flight, review of existing agreements between the two countries and matters related to supporting each other in regional and international arena.

The two presidents witnessed the signing of an agreement on management of the Myanmar-Lao Friendship Bridge by foreign ministers of the two countries Aung San Suu Kyi and Saleumxay Kommasith.

The bridge, which is the first ever one across the Mekong River between the two countries linking Myanmar's Tachileik in eastern Shan state and Lao's Luang Namtha province, was inaugurated in May 2015 by then presidents of both countries.

The construction of the 691.6-meter-long Myanmar-Lao friendship bridge at a cost of 26 million U.S. dollars was first raised during an earlier visit to Myanmar by Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong in July 2011 and the project began in February 2013.

The opening of the friendship bridge coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic establishment of Myanmar and Laos.

The Mekong subregion countries greatly benefit from the bridge which is located on the North Economic Corridor linking the Port of Haiphong in Vietnam and the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port in Myanmar through Laos.

Accompanied by State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Htin Kyaw paid a goodwill visit to Laos in May as his first foreign trip after his government took office on April 1.

That trip also came more than two years after former Lao President Choummaly Sayasone came to Myanmar on a state visit in December 2013.

Laos has been supporting Myanmar's democratization and national reconciliation efforts.

Leaders of the two countries pledged to promote bilateral relations and cooperation in rural development, poverty alleviation, tourist, education, forest, agriculture and livestock breeding sectors.

Cooperating in curbing illegal drug and chemical precursor smuggling in the two border areas, the two countries have laid down plan for prevention and control of drug abuse between the two countries.

Both sides reaffirmed their policy to respect and safeguard each other's sovereignty and security by not allowing any armed insurgent groups from either side to keep their base in the territory of respective countries.

Moreover, the two countries are also expanding cooperation in legislative affairs especially in recent years when Myanmar was undergoing reform process which also covered the legislative sector.

According to official statistics, the volume of trade between Myanmar and Laos is still low compared with other neighboring countries.

Sharing border of over 230 kilometers, the two countries established diplomatic relations in July 1955.

Both Myanmar and Laos joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997. This year Laos chairs the regional grouping and hosted the region's foreign ministers meeting in July, which Aung San Suu Kyi attended, and will also host the regional summit in September. Enditem