The agreement was reached during talks between Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Philippine Foreign Minister Jose Rene D. Almendras in Laos on April 19.

The two sides praised their past collaboration, particularly the exchange of high-ranking delegations.

They said as Laos is taking the helm of ASEAN chair, closer coordination between the two countries is necessary to help realise three pillars of the ASEAN Community – the socio-cultural, political-security and economic communities.

Both sides also noted the sound outcomes of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat 2016 in Vientiane, Laos, and the ASEAN-US summit in California, the US.

They took the occasion to compare notes on international and regional issues of shared interest.

The same day, the Filipino FM also paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong.

FM Jose Rene D. Almendras is on an official visit to Laos from April 18 to 20 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.