A summary of Laos-Japan cooperation during Shinzo Abe’s time as Japanese Prime Minister

The fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 67, on July 8 while giving a speech in the city of Nara in support of a candidate running in the Upper House election, caused great sadness for the Japanese people, global leaders, and people worldwide.
Mr Shinzo Abe was a visionary leader who significantly enhanced the role of Japan in the regional and international arenas. He also greatly contributed to efforts to deepen the longstanding relations between Japan and Laos.
Cooperation between Laos and Japan progressively expanded during Mr Abe’s time as Prime Minister. Three former Lao premiers, Mr Bouasone Bouphavanh, Mr Thongsing Thammavong and Mr Thongloun Sisoulith, met Mr Abe to expand cooperation between the two countries and peoples.

Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe jointly announce to strengthen the cooperation of Laos and Japan.

Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh visits Japan in 2007
Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh and his delegation visited Japan on May 14-17, 2007. Mr Bouasone met his counterpart Mr Shinzo Abe in Tokyo and they jointly announced the results of the meeting. Mr Bouasone also witnessed the signing of agreements on grant aid projects funded by Japan. These included the rebuilding of the Hinheup Bridge, worth 933 million yen, and human resource development scholarships, worth 362 million yen.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits Laos In 2013
Premier Abe met Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong. The two premiers witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements between Laos’ Ministry of Health and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Welfare.
Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong visits Japan in 2015
On March 4-7, 2015, Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong visited Japan to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Laos-Japan diplomatic relations. Mr Thongsing and Mr Abe agreed to upgrade the Laos-Japan relationship from a comprehensive cooperation partnership to a strategic cooperation partnership. They jointly announced a logo to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, while Lao elephants were sent to a zoo in Tokyo and Japanese cherry blossom trees were planted in Laos’ Huaphan province. The gifts symbolised the growing relations between the two countries and peoples. After the meeting, the two premiers jointly announced the upgrade to a strategic partnership and signed a document to that effect. 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits Laos in 2016
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Laos from September 6-8, 2016, to attend the 28th and 29th Asean Summits in Vientiane.
On September 6, Mr Abe met then Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. The two premiers said they highly valued the way in which the strategic partnership had grown. Mr Thongloun thanked Mr Abe for Japan’s Official Development Assistance, particular Japanese government grant aid of 500 million yen to help balance the national budget. He also expressed appreciation of Japan’s support for the 28th and 29th Summits and associated meetings. On September 7, President Bounnhang Vorachit welcomed Mr Shinzo Abe at the Presidential Office.
 Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith broadens cooperation when Mr Shinzo Abe becomes Prime Minister of Japan
On May 28, 2016, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith met his counterpart Mr Shinzo Abe in Nagoya during the G7 meeting held in Japan.
In 2017, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith met his Japanese counterpart Mr Shinzo Abe at the 23rd international meeting on The Future of Asia in Japan.
On June 7, 2017, Mr Thongloun thanked Japan for its Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Laos, after Japan became the first provider of ODA to Laos.
In 2016, Japan supported five projects with 13,854 billion yen and in June 2017 Laos and Japan signed documents approving two projects worth 367 million yen. Another 11 technical cooperation projects were approved in the fiscal year 2015-16 and carried out in 2017-18. These included the provision of scholarships for Lao nationals to study for master and doctorate degrees to build capacity in road maintenance; a capacity building project for senior government officials; enlargement of Wattay International Airport; and the provision of volunteers to assist Laos. From 1965 to the present, Japan has provided more than 800 volunteers and more than 4,500 experts to assist Laos’ development. Japan also provided 7.03 million yen for unexploded ordnance (UXO) developmental support and poverty alleviation.
On June 12, 2018, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith again met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the 24th international meeting on The Future of Asia, organised by the Nikkei news agency in Japan. The two premiers witnessed the signing of documents for Japan to provide 310 million yen for human resource development scholarships.
On October 8, 2018, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith also met Mr Abe at the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit in Japan. The two premiers confirmed their intention to deepen their countries’ strategic partnership, making the following declarations:
1, Laos highly valued the friendly relationship and cooperation between the two countries, which had grown continuously, as evidenced by the successes achieved in different areas of cooperation. This included regular reciprocal visits by high-level leaders, while cooperation in economics, socio-culture and tourism was also enhanced.
2. The two sides highly valued their mutual cooperation under the Mekong-Japan cooperation framework, especially work carried out under the Tokyo strategy 2015, while the work plan for 2016-18 had been effectively undertaken. The two sides agreed to upgrade the relationship between the Mekong region and Japan to that of a strategic cooperation partnership. This included partnering in socio-economic development to improve the quality of life of riverine communities. Laos prepared to participate in implementing the Tokyo strategy 2018 that had been approved at the Mekong-Japan Summit.
3. The two sides highly valued the progress of cooperation between Laos and Japan to help fulfil the 8th five-year National Socio-economic Development Plan as well as achieve the strategic plan for 2025 and the vision for 2030.
4. Laos expressed sympathy to the government and Japanese people in the wake of floods, landslides, storms and earthquakes.  Laos also thanked the government and people of Japan for their valuable assistance following the devastating flood in Sanamxay district, Attapeu province.
5. Laos thanked the Japanese government for continued assistance in basic infrastructure development, impacts of UXO, and financial support.
6. The two premiers witnessed the signing of mutual cooperation agreements, including Japanese support for a UXO project worth 900 million yen, and a technical cooperation agreement between Laos’ Mittaphab Hospital and the Kitahara Brain Surgery Institute in Japan.
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith again met Prime Minister. Shinzo Abe at the 25th international meeting on The Future of Asia, organised by the Nikkei news agency in 2019. The premiers witnessed the signing of more agreements on human resource development scholarships (for young government personnel), worth 308 million yen.
Following Mr Abe’s tragic death, Lao government leaders including President Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith sent messages of sympathy to their Japanese counterparts and signed a book of condolence at the Japanese Embassy in Vientiane.

President Bounnhang Vorachit welcomes Mr Shinzo Abe at the Presidential Office in Vientiane in 2016.	Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith meets Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Japan.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update July 14, 2022)