Japan to help transform Laos
Japan and Laos have agreed on a joint plan to spur development in the landlocked Southeast Asian country during a meeting between their leaders. At their meeting held on the sidelines of the ASEAN summits here this week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Lao counterpart, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, affirmed Japan’s commitment to work with Laos to build links with neighbouring countries, diversify the Lao economy and bridge urban-rural gaps, the Kyodo news agency reported. Under the plan, aimed at lifting Laos out of the United Nations’ category of least developed countries by 2020, Japan will cooperate with Laos in building road and bridge infrastructure, developing public transport for the capital, Vientiane, and continuing joint work on developing its international airport.
