Laos Rolls Out Red Carpet For Malaysian PM's Maiden Visit

From Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz

VIENTIANE, June 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was accorded an official welcoming ceremony by the Laos government at the Prime Minister’s Office building here in conjunction with his two-day official visit to the country.

Upon arrival, Anwar, who was accompanied by his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, received a flowers bouquet from local schoolchildren and was greeted by Laos Prime Minister, Dr Sonexay Siphandone and his wife, Vandala Siphandone.

The national anthems of both countries were played followed by the inspection of guards of honour by Anwar, accompanied by his Laos counterpart.

Both leaders then proceeded to a bilateral meeting and will later witness the signing of memoranda of cooperation (MoC) between Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) and Lao National Railway State Enterprise (LNRSE) as well as Mutiara Perlis Sdn Bhd (MPSB) and Thanaleng Dry Port (TDP).

Both leaders will also witness the exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB or Malaysia’s largest electricity utility) and Electricite du Lao (EDL or the state corporation of Laos that owns and operates the country's electricity generation, electricity transmission and electricity distribution assets).

This will be followed by a joint press conference before Siphandone hosts an official luncheon for Anwar and the Malaysian delegation.

Anwar who arrived here Monday evening for his maiden visit to the country at the invitation of his Laos counterpart, was also accompanied by Foreign Minister Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

-- BERNAMA