Laos Foreign Minister To Visit Malaysia Friday

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), March 16 (Bernama) -- Laos Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith will be in Malaysia on Friday for a one-day official visit. While in Malaysia, he is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Najib Razak. Wisma Putra (Malaysia's Foreign Ministry) in a statement on Thursday said Kommasith would also hold a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Anifah Aman to discuss and exchange views on bilateral relations and visit the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations. "The visit of His Excellency Kommasith is expected to give further impetus to the bilateral relations and interactions between the two countries in the near future," said Wisma Putra. Bilateral relations between Malaysia and Laos have been growing steadily over the years. In 2016, there was a significant improvement of 120 per cent in Malaysia's total trade with Laos which amounted to US$30.96 million (RM136.2 million) compared to US$14.03 million (RM61.73) in 2015, the statement said. "Laos is a significant regional partner for Malaysia, especially after it became a member of ASEAN in 1997," said Wisma Putra. --BERNAMA