Laos still key trade partner for Japan: academic
Laos still key trade partner for Japan: academic
Asean continues to be an important economic partner to Japan and Laos could be the country's next prospective partner in the region, according to a leading Japanese academic .
The comment was made by Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) research fellow, Dr Nobuhide Hatasa, during a lecture on the impact of the Japanese economy on the region delivered in Vientiane on Tuesday.
“Japan's foreign direct investment or FDI flow into Laos was the country's seventh largest from 2000 to 2011, but Asean remains the largest market for Japan,” he said.
The talk was part of a working visit by JIIA members to the Lao Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA), held from August 19 to 22.
During the visit, the two organisations are focusing discussions on regional and international issues.
Participants looked at the possibility of a memorandum of understanding on technical capacity building and other related activities.
The Japanese delegation was led by JIIA Adjunct Follow, Professor Tsutomu Kikuchi, while IFA Deputy Director General, Mr Bounpanh Kongnhinsayaseng, and other officials attended Tuesday's lecture.
The JIAA delegation also paid a courtesy visit to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Alounkeo Kittikhoun.
JIAA was founded in 1959 as a private, nonpartisan policy think-tank focused on foreign affairs and security issues.
The visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affair's IFA is seen as a positive step in Japan-Laos relations.
vientiane times
