MINSK, July 1 (Itar-Tass) - Talks between Presidents Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus and Choummaly Sayasone of Laos will be held here on Monday during the Laotian leader's official visit.
An official in the press service of the Belarusian president told Itar-Tass, "Official talks between Alexande Lukashenko and Choummaly Sayasone will be held on July 1. As a result of the talks, the parties are expected to sign documents on the development of cooperation in various fields."
The programme for the Laotian president's visit provides for his meetings with the leadership of Belarusian government and parliament, and a tour of industrial and agricultural enterprises and historico-cultural facilities, the press service official pointed out.
A Belarus-Laos business forum will be also held during Sayasone's visit. It will be attended by Mikhail Myatlikov, Chairman of the Belarus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), Sisavath Thiravong, President of the National CCI of Laos, officials of the Belarusian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economics, and members of the business communities of the two countries. Those present will discuss cooperation in such areas as machine building, agriculture, the food industry, tourism, construction, and the mining industry.
Early in June, during a meeting with Thonglun Sisulit, Laotian Vice-Premier and Minister of Foreign Affaits, Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that contacts wit that country on economic matters were maintained at times via Vietnam. However, at present, the two countries can cooperated in many fields directly, he said. "I am glad that the President of Laos will visit Belarus soon. This is very good becase we reach out to establishing direct contacts between countries," Lukashnko emphasized. In so doing he pointed out the friendly nature of relations that had been developing since long ago.
According to official information, goods turnover between Belarus and Laos ran at $11 million last year and amounted to almost $190,000 in the Janaury-March period of 2013 resultant chiefly of Belarusian exports. Laos imports industrial output, consumer goods, which creates favourable prerequisites for the development of Belarusian export, first of all farm machinery, automobiles, open-pit equipment, diesel generators and pumps, tyres, foodstuffs and alcoholic products. Negotiations are under way between MAZ Company and a Laotian company for the deliveries of Belarusian equipment and spare parts.
A number of promising aspects of the development of cooperation in the trade-and-economic, scientific-and-technical and humanitarian fields are in the stage of study. In particular, the possibility of establishing a joint venture in the territory of Laos is under study to produce baby foods from Belarusian rawstuffs, to register and deliver pharmaceuticals to Laos, and effect direct deliveries of tractors on leasing to Laos.
The visit of the President of Laos, who arrived in Belarus on June 30, will continue until July 3.