DILI, 29 march 2024 (TATOLI) – The President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Thoungloung Sisouliht congratulated Timor-Leste on its formal accession to the World Trade Organization.
The congratulation message was conveyed during the visit of the President of the Republic, Jose Ramos Horta to Lao PDR on wednesday (27/02).
“President Thoungloung Sisouliht congratulated Timor-Leste on its accession to permanent membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO),” said in a statement.
The Lao Head of State added that with Timor-Leste’s accession, economic cooperation with the Lao is made possible to benefit the peoples and nations of both countries.
“We are proud that Timor-Leste has officially become a member of the World Trade Organization. We know that the two nations are now WTO members, and this mechanism must be used to benefit trade and promotion for the two nations. I hope that our accession can further contribute to the promotion of even greater trade cooperation between our two nations,” said Lao Head of State Sisouliht.
President Sisouliht also expressed Lao PDR’s commitment to supporting Timor-Leste in realizing its dream of becoming a new member of ASEAN.
“We will give our maximum support to Timor-Leste’s efforts in implementing the necessary roadmap to be able to become an ASEAN member in the near future,” he said.
After the meeting, President Horta and his Lao PDR counterpart Sisouliht, went on to witness the signing of a cooperation agreement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito Freitas, and Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce, Malaithong Kommasith in the fields of Trade, Economy and Industry.
On this occasion, Timor-Leste Ambassador Filomeno Aleixo da Cruz also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic regarding land exchange to build an embassy office in Dili.
Meanwhile, President Horta and his delegation also held a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Xonexay Siphandone to discuss bilateral cooperation agreements between the two countries.
During this state visit, the President also visited the heroes’ garden to lay wreaths at the Lao heroes’ monument and finally visited the ‘That Luang Stupa’ museum in Vientiane, Lao.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
