Latest update · First report ↓
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev held an expanded-format meeting with President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith on October 13.
First report · Latest update ↑
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev held an expanded-format meeting with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith on October 13.
“Operative Information Center-OMM” reports that President Ilham Aliyev said at the meeting:
— Welcome once again, Mr. President. I am very pleased that you accepted my invitation and are visiting Azerbaijan. I am confident that your visit will strengthen our bilateral ties and create new opportunities for cooperation.
We have just had a one-on-one meeting. We discussed our bilateral agenda in detail, including political and economic issues and other areas of mutual interest. We will now continue our discussions with the participation of our delegations.
I believe that further strengthening our political ties would be the best outcome of your visit. We are good friends and actively cooperate on the international stage. Naturally, we would like to see more active development in the economic sphere. I looked at some figures; they are very small, but there is great potential. I believe your visit will give impetus to economic cooperation between us. As I noted during our one-on-one meeting, we are also ready to consider practical investment projects in your country. I believe business circles on both sides will explore this opportunity. As we discussed, you will also meet with the Speaker of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) and the Prime Minister, and our discussions will continue.
Overall, we are very satisfied with the level of our political relations. We have met several times on the sidelines of various international events. However, this is the first official visit to Azerbaijan by a president of Laos, and it certainly has a special status. I would also like to thank you for taking part in the CICA summit. With the support of all countries, Azerbaijan was unanimously elected to chair CICA. Over the past two years, Azerbaijan has sought to contribute to the development of this institution. The summit in Baku, with broad representation from heads of state and government and other officials, will undoubtedly strengthen security and cooperation in Asia. Overall, I believe our foreign policy toward Asia is very dynamic and results-oriented. I wish you a pleasant stay here. Welcome to Azerbaijan once again.
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President Thongloun Sisoulith then said:
— I feel proud and honored to have the opportunity to lead a high-level delegation from Laos on an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan. This visit is taking place at the kind invitation of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev. I still have fond memories of my meeting with Your Excellency at the BRICS+ Summit in Kazan in October 2024, as well as our cordial conversations on the sidelines of various international forums. I would like to express my gratitude to the friendly people of Azerbaijan and to Your Excellency for your leadership and for the warm welcome extended to me and my delegation from the moment we arrived in the beautiful city of Baku. Having been in Baku and Azerbaijan in 1982, more than 40 years ago, and having continued to follow the country’s development, I am deeply impressed to see its rapid progress and transformation with my own eyes. This is my first official visit to Azerbaijan as President of Laos. Since diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1995, this is the first visit at the level of heads of state and marks a historic milestone. It further strengthens, broadens and elevates our traditional ties of friendship and cooperation as they enter a period of closer and more effective partnership.
