Late last year, Prime Minister Bouasone met with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) + China Commemorative Summit. In their bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Bouasone expressed the hope that trade and bilateral ties between the Philippines and Lao PDR, specifically in the information technology and other sectors, would be expanded. In turn, President Arroyo committed support to the Lao PDR people in its economic and nation-building pursuit.

Today, the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Lao PDR are expected to be firmed as Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh arrives for an official visit to our country. Prime Minister Bouasone has been an active member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party for over 30 years, starting from his active involvement as a student activist in the mid-1970s. Prior to his election as Prime Minister, he had served as Third Deputy Prime Minister and was president of the State Planning Committee. As one of the younger leaders in Lao PDR, Prime Minister Bouasone is considered a technocrat who is expected to continue with the economic, social, and political reforms in Lao PDR, to bring the landlocked nation closer to its goal of economic development and sustained political stability. Over the past decades, Lao PDR has seen a steady growth in its economy given the openness of its leaders, with the average annual growth rate in the last decade at a respectable 7 percent.

We welcome Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and his delegation and wish them a successful and enjoyable stay in the Philippines.