The Lao-US Comprehensive Partnership has significantly contributed to strengthening cooperation in a number of areas, according to a US diplomat.
Giving an interview to the Lao media on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Lao-US Comprehensive Partnership, US Ambassador to the Lao PDR Peter M. Haymond noted that with the partnership, the United States and the Lao PDR had launched a new era of bilateral relations based on mutual respect, common interests.
Former President Bounnhang Vorachit and his US counterpart Barack Obama unveiled the Comprehensive Partnership between the Lao P.D.R. and the United States of America and explored areas for future cooperation during Obama’s visit to Laos in 2016.
Over the past five years, the Comprehensive Partnership has witnessed growing cooperation in areas of diplomatic relations, removal of unexploded ordnance –UXO, trade, investment, economy, education and training, environment and health, human rights, and people-to-people ties.
The two countries have enjoyed impressive growth in economic and trade ties. Meanwhile the US is among key partners in supporting Covid-19 fight in the Lao PDR.
The US government has provided more than 1.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to the Lao PDR including 1,008,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine, 132,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and 100,620 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, along with other medical equipment and training.
In 2020, the total value of Laos’ trade in goods with US amounted to USD 130 million, down from pre-Covid-19 year 2019 when the trade value stood at US$160 million.
Source: Lao News Agency