Talks between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith took place in Astana. The leaders discussed bilateral cooperation in a narrow format, reports infohub.kz.
Welcoming the high-ranking guest, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called the first visit of the Lao leader to Kazakhstan a historic event. He noted that next year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and emphasized the friendly nature of their ties.
"We closely interact on the international stage, primarily within the United Nations. In addition, I would like to express sincere gratitude for Laos's support of our initiatives within the CICA. Mr. President, this is your first visit to our country. I am confident that upon its conclusion, our governments will begin actively implementing the agreements reached," stressed Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
According to the Kazakh President, Laos is an important and reliable partner in Southeast Asia. He also noted the steady growth of Laos's economy in recent years, particularly in energy, agriculture, industry, and tourism.
In turn, Thongloun Sisoulith expressed gratitude for the invitation to visit Kazakhstan. He stated: "During this visit, I have seen with my own eyes how comprehensively Kazakhstan is developing and what large-scale transformations are being carried out under your leadership. It is a great honor for me to make this official visit to Kazakhstan as President of the country and meet with you today. I sincerely believe that my visit will make a significant contribution to strengthening bilateral relations. I am confident that during the talks we will be able to discuss a wide range of issues and outline promising areas of cooperation and further joint work."