Lukashenko to President of Laos: Belarus would like to have foothold in Southeast Asia
President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has talked with President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith on the side-lines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan today
The Head of State noted that he was pleased to meet with Thongloun Sisoulith on the territory of the country that’s not alien to him, adding that he remembered the meeting in Minsk in 2013 when the President of Laos was the Foreign Minister, “I must tell you that we are very benevolent towards your country, we want to deepen our relations and have a foothold for Belarus in Southeast Asia. Since Laos is interested in us and – sorry for saying that openly – needs Belarus, we could expand our co-operation and liaise more actively. We have everything for this, and we just need a desire and a certain plan of action for the future.”
In turn, Thongloun Sisoulith thanked the Belarusian leader for the time spent and recalled the meeting in Moscow during the parade in honour of the Great Victory. The President of Laos stressed that he’s following the news about Belarus and Aleksandr Lukashenko’s leading role. He also congratulated Belarus for significantly strengthening its role on the world arena.
“Our level does not yet correspond to the possibilities of our friendship and relations between countries, especially in the economy,” the President of Laos stated and proposed to consider the issue of joint mining. He also invited a Belarusian delegation to Laos to work out joint mutually beneficial projects.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarus is ready to co-operate with Laos in many areas and to share its experiences. “I think we need groups of specialists representing our both sides to develop an action plan for the near and medium term, so that we understand in which direction to move, what Belarusian goods you are interested in (not necessarily of the military-industrial complex), what Belarusians are interested in Laos. We now need to summarise all this, develop an action plan and prepare it for approval,” he said. “We will exchange visits. I am always ready to welcome you in Minsk and I think I will find time to visit your wonderful country.”
The President agreed that the relations between the two countries do not correspond to their potential, and therefore it is necessary to progress more confidently. Aleksandr Lukashenko assured his colleague that Belarus would do everything to ensure that co-operation with it is beneficial to the Lao people.
Co-operation between the two countries in international organisations is characterised by a high degree of support. Laos voted for Belarus in 2023 in the elections for non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 period. The legal framework is in the process of formation and includes thirteen international treaties (2 interstate, 8 intergovernmental, and 3 interdepartmental).
In 2023, the Belarus-Laos trade turnover amounted to $9.4m (716.7 percent compared to the 2022 figures), exports — $9.2m (747 percent), and imports — $0.2m (150.9 percent). The balance was positive: $9m.
