Events

MINSK, 1 July (BelTA) – President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Choummaly Sayasone arrived in Belarus on an official visit on 30 June, BelTA has learnt.

According to the presidential press service, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Lao leader Choummaly Sayasone are due to hold talks on 1 July. They are expected to sign agreements on cooperation in various areas.

The program of the visit will also feature Mr Sayasone’s meetings with Belarus’ government officials, tours of industrial and agricultural companies, historical and cultural landmarks.

Belarus and Laos established diplomatic relations in 1994. The two countries have been steadily developing the legal framework of the bilateral relations. In January-March 2013 the trade between Belarus and Laos totaled almost $190,000. Laos imports Belarusian industrial products, consumer goods, which creates positive conditions for Belarus’ exports, first of all, in agricultural, automobile and quarry equipment, diesel generators and pumps, tires, food and alcohol products. MAZ is negotiating supplies of Belarusian equipment and component parts with one of the Lao companies. The two countries have a number of promising areas for cooperation development. Among them are trade and economy, science and humanitarian activities. In particular, the parties are looking into a project related with the opening of a joint company in Laos to produce baby food using the Belarusian raw material, registration and supplies of pharmaceutical products to Laos, and direct supplies of Belarusian tractors under leasing schemes.