SEPANG, May 25 (Bernama) -- Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone arrived in Malaysia today to begin his first official visit ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Kuala Lumpur.
The aeroplane carrying Siphandone, his wife Vandara Siphandone and his delegation landed at the Bunga Raya Complex, Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 9.05 am, and they were greeted by Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.
Upon arrival, the Prime Minister inspected a guard of honour mounted by 28 officers and personnel of the First Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment, led by Capt J. Lingesri Rao.
Wisma Putra, in a statement, said this is Siphandone's first visit to Malaysia since being elected as the Prime Minister in December 2022.
The visit, ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit, the second ASEAN-GCC Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit on May 26 and 27 in Malaysia’s capital, underscores the strong and enduring ties between Malaysia and Laos.
Siphandone will be accorded an official welcoming ceremony by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya, followed by a bilateral meeting.
Wisma Putra said the meeting will focus on the progress of ongoing bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of trade and investment, defence, education, renewable energy, transportation, tourism, capacity building, agriculture and the halal industry.
The two leaders will also engage in a substantive exchange of views on regional and global developments, with an emphasis on the strategic importance of ASEAN as a cohesive and responsive platform to address shared concerns, particularly in light of emerging geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges.
In 2024, total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Laos reached USD21.9 million (RM99.7 million), with Malaysia’s exports at USD14.9 million (RM67.8 million) and imports at USD7 million (RM31.9 million).
Malaysia is the fifth largest foreign investor in Laos, with total investments worth USD942 million and 46 registered projects, focusing on sectors such as renewable energy, transport and logistics, telecommunications, construction, banking, and hotel services.
-- BERNAMA
