The two countries also issued a joint statement calling for upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

VIENTIANE: Laos and Japan on Tuesday (Jan 21) exchanged notes concerning grant aid to Laos to support the Project for the Improvement of Provincial Teacher Development Centres, following the Japan-Laos Summit Meeting in Japan.

VIENTIANE: The Lao Ministry of Health and a Japanese company will partner in the provision of polio vaccinations in continued efforts to prevent an outbreak of polio in Laos. This will be supported by funding under the Polio Vaccine Procurement Budget, which was agreed to by the Ministry of Health and Japan’s Nihon Reuse System Co., Ltd.

By Sibi George, Ambassador of India to JapanOn the occasion of India's 76th Republic Day, I extend my warm greetings to Their Majesties, the Emperor a･･･

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The leaders of Japan and Laos agreed Tuesday to upgrade their bilateral relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership," as Tokyo tries to strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asia to uphold a rules-based order amid China's rise.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (left) and his Japanese counterpart Ishiba Shigeru congratulate each other after signing a joint statement to elevate Laos-Japan ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on January 22 chaired a high-level roundtable discussion with Japanese business leaders in Tokyo in a bid to bolster investment and trade between the two countries. The Lao PM is leading a Lao delegation on an official working visit to Japan from January 20-23 to enhance relations and mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 60th anniversary of Japan providing volunteer workers to Laos.

The leaders of Japan and Laos met Tuesday to discuss deepening bilateral ties, as Tokyo seeks to work even more closely with Southeast Asia to ensure a rules-based order in the region amid China's rise.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone in Tokyo, where they said vice-ministerial-level dialogues in both foreign affairs and defense would be established.

Prime Minister Ishiba held a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Sonexay SIPHANDONE, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

The two leaders also concurred in elevating Japan-Laos relations to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" in view of the progress of cooperation between the two countries over the years in various fields.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone is scheduled to visit Japan early next week, the government in Tokyo said Thursday, as the two nations mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.