| Azlan Othman |

LAO People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) Prime Minister Dr Thongloun Sisoulith is leading 60 officials on a two-day official visit to Brunei beginning today.

The visit is in response to an invitation from His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Embassy of Laos in Brunei Darussalam told the Weekend Bulletin yesterday.

The visit also aims to further strengthen the relations and cooperation between the Lao PDR and Brunei Darussalam.

There will be business matching sessions in areas such as education and trade, where Memorandum of Understandings (MoU)s will be signed between National Chamber of Commerce Brunei Darussalam and Industry and Lao PDR National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

During their stay, members of the Laos delegation are expected to visit the Golden Corporation in Tutong District, according to an official programme.

Golden Corporation is an integrated seafood company that develops shrimp farms, fishmeal and feed mill plants.

It has also established the first integrated seafood processing plant in Brunei Darussalam.

At the second meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between the Lao PDR and Brunei Darussalam in Luang Prabang last year, the two countries agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations.

These included the fields of human resource development, air transport, drug control, labour, cultural exchange, and women’s development.

Since Laos and Brunei established diplomatic relations on July 27, 1993, friendly relations and close cooperation have continued to flourish in the areas of education, sports and trade.

Brunei has an embassy in Vientiane, while Laos has its embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan.

The two countries have extended the visa waiver agreement for their citizens holding diplomatic, official and regular passports from 14 to 30 days.

In previous years, the Government of Brunei had supported Laos’ hosting of the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM 9) in 2012 and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summits in Vientiane in 2004 and 2016.

Brunei had also provided support to Laos in the areas of human resource development, building of schools, and sports development.