[Title] Joint Statement on Upgrading to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the Occasion of the 70th Anniversary of Japan-the Lao PDR Diplomatic Relations

At the invitation of the Government of Japan, H.E. Mr. Sonexay SIPHANDONE, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madame Vandara SIPHANDONE and delegation made an Official Working Visit to Japan from 21 to 23 January 2025, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Lao PDR. During the bilateral Summit Meeting on 21 January 2025, H.E. Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, and H.E. Mr. Sonexay SIPHANDONE, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR issued this Joint Statement on upgrading the bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, taking into account the progress of cooperation in all areas over the past 70 years as well as the future prospects of the bilateral relations for tangible benefit of the people of the two nations and for peace, stability and development cooperation in the region and the world at large.

The two leaders highly appreciated the bilateral friendship and cooperation built on mutual trust and understanding over the 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1955. They emphasized that since the elevation of bilateral relations to Strategic Partnership in 2015, bilateral relations have achieved remarkable development in many areas. The two leaders concurred on further developing bilateral relations that are flourishing in all areas and to bring them to fruition for the benefit of both peoples and the development of regional and international community.

The two leaders appreciated the close high-level exchanges between the two governments over the past decade, including mutual visits by the leaders of both countries, notably Prime Minister ISHIBA's Official Visit to the Lao PDR during the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Vientiane, Lao PDR in October 2024. They also appreciated the steady achievements in various areas of cooperation including politics and security, economic cooperation, trade and investment, regional and international arena, people-to-people and cultural exchanges. They also concurred on continuing on deepening and expanding multi-layered exchanges.

The two leaders concurred on promoting cooperation towards the Lao PDR's graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) and its entry into upper-middle income country status in the future. To this end, Prime Minister ISHIBA expressed his intention to further support the Lao PDR's own efforts towards autonomous and quality economic development through strengthening regional connectivity and resilience, the Lao PDR's fiscal stabilization, and improvement of the business environment.

The two leaders emphasized their shared recognition that the two countries are important partners in strengthening Mekong-Japan cooperation and ASEAN-Japan dialogue relations, as well as in further reinforcing the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through enhanced practical cooperation and synergy in the four priority areas outlined in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), recognizing that both the AOIP and Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) concept share relevant fundamental principles in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. In this regard, the Lao PDR appreciated Japan's unwavering support for ASEAN Centrality and unity as well as ASEAN's efforts in promoting the mainstreaming of the AOIP.

Based on the above, on the occasion of these milestone anniversaries - the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of Strategic Partnership - the two leaders concurred on upgrading bilateral relations to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" and to elevate cooperation in all areas to new heights, including politics and security, economic cooperation, trade and investment, people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation in regional and international society.

The details of cooperation in such areas are mentioned in the Annex.

Signed in Tokyo on 21 January 2025

ISHIBA Shigeru
Prime Minister of Japan

SONEXAY SIPHANDONE
Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic