Malaysia to start direct flight to Laos

IT will soon be possible to fly directly from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Vientiane with the opening of a new sector on Air Asia in July.

The agreement was reached at the third meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Laos and Malaysia, between the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, and the Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Dato’ Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

Dr Thongloun Sisoulith (right) signs a cooperation agreement with Mr Dato’ Seri Syed Hamid Albar at the joint commission meeting in Malaysia.

Both sides expressed confidence that the direct air links between Kuala Lumpur and Vientiane by Air Asia would significantly facilitate travel, as well as enhance the development of cooperation in the areas of tourism, trade and investment between the two countries. The meeting was held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on May 10 and 11.

According to a press release, as well as operating this new sector, Malaysia is ready to assist Laos in preparations to host the SEA Games in Vientiane in 2009, by training Lao athletes and coaches in Malaysia.

The two sides agreed to seek ways to take their cooperation to higher levels and explore the potential of each country for the mutual benefit of Lao and Malaysian people.

In addition, Laos and Malaysia agreed to increase cooperation in Asean and in other areas to contribute to the wider goal of maintaining peace and stability and fostering development in the region and world.

Malaysia will continue its assistance in training Lao officials under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme and Third Country Training Programme.

During the meeting, Dr Thongloun and his counterpart discussed a wide range of issues, including political relations, security, trade and investment, science, transportation and air services, energy and telecommunications, agriculture and agro-based industry, forestry and mineral resource development.

Both sides exchanged views on the overall development of their bilateral relations since the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission in 2004 in Vientiane, and expressed their satisfaction on the state of bilateral cooperation and relations, which have been further consolidated and strengthened.

Both sides also agreed to undertake continuous efforts to expand the scope of bilateral cooperation and to work together with the other Asean member countries to advance the collective interest of Asean while preserving its unity.

The meeting underlined the importance of the exchange of visits between government leaders and officials, as well as people-to-people exchange and contact to enhance understanding and friendship between the two countries.

Both sides agreed to intensify efforts to strengthen trade and investment cooperation and to explore collaborative initiatives in business and trade which would contribute towards stronger economic ties between both countries.

The meeting also agreed to intensify cooperation in preventing the spread of avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease and other vector-borne diseases in the region.

Laos will host the Fourth Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Laos and Malaysia in 2009.

Quoted from VientianeTimes