State President U Min Aung Hlaing meets with Chairman of Laos-Myanmar Friendship Association

State President U Min Aung Hlaing and Chairman of the Laos-Myanmar Friendship Association met and discussed. State President U Min Aung Hlaing, who is on a State-level goodwill visit to Laos at the invitation of Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, was paid a courtesy call by Chairman of the Laos-Myanmar Friendship Association H.E. Mr. Chanthavong Seneamatmontry in Vientiane. During the meeting, H.E. Mr. Chanthavong Seneamatmontry expressed his pleasure and honor to have the opportunity to meet and pay respects as the Chairman of the Laos-Myanmar Friendship Association during the State-level goodwill visit to Laos, stating that this is the first visit to Laos by the State President among ASEAN countries after assuming the duties of State President, and it symbolizes the importance placed on friendship between the two countries. Furthermore, he stated that based on over 70 years of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and Laos and centuries of historical relations, the two countries are reliable partners, and the meetings with the President, Prime Minister, and Speaker of the National Assembly of Laos during this visit are an important milestone for further strengthening and consolidating bilateral relations. During the meeting, discussions were held on upgrading the friendship between the two countries to a strategic partnership, increasing cooperation between governments, parliaments, and peoples, effectively implementing agreements signed between the two countries, holding regular annual meetings between the Myanmar-Laos Friendship Associations and cooperating closely like a family and brothers, further promoting people-to-people relations, and enhancing the role of friendship associations in the areas of education, employment, and capacity building for youth. In addition, discussions were held on increasing social cooperation in areas such as education, health, humanitarian activities, and the supply of snakebite antivenom, and on cooperating in the fields of religion, culture, and the preservation of traditional heritage, as Myanmar and Laos are countries that follow Theravada Buddhism. State President U Min Aung Hlaing was accompanied by Union Ministers U Khin Maung Yi, U Tin Maung Swe, and U Khin Maung Soe, as well as responsible officials. H.E. Mr. Chanthavong Seneamatmontry, Chairman of the Laos-Myanmar Friendship Association, and responsible officials also attended the meeting.