Laos and Japan have upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking 70 years of diplomatic ties and paving the way for closer collaboration in trade, travel, and regional cooperation.

VIENTIANE: Laos and Japan on Tuesday (Jan 21) exchanged notes concerning grant aid to Laos to support the Project for the Improvement of Provincial Teacher Development Centres, following the Japan-Laos Summit Meeting in Japan.

The two countries also issued a joint statement calling for upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The leaders of Japan and Laos agreed Tuesday to upgrade their bilateral relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership," as Tokyo tries to strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asia to uphold a rules-based order amid China's rise.

Prime Minister Ishiba held a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Sonexay SIPHANDONE, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone in Tokyo, where they said vice-ministerial-level dialogues in both foreign affairs and defense would be established.

The two leaders also concurred in elevating Japan-Laos relations to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" in view of the progress of cooperation between the two countries over the years in various fields.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on January 22 chaired a high-level roundtable discussion with Japanese business leaders in Tokyo in a bid to bolster investment and trade between the two countries. The Lao PM is leading a Lao delegation on an official working visit to Japan from January 20-23 to enhance relations and mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 60th anniversary of Japan providing volunteer workers to Laos.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone is scheduled to visit Japan early next week, the government in Tokyo said Thursday, as the two nations mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

Efforts to fortify the military alliance between the Philippines and New Zealand are now underway following the conduct of the first round of formal negotiations on the proposed Status of Visiting Forces Agreement between the two countries last week.

Laos is heavily indebted to and economically dependent on China. Could Vietnam and Thailand offer a way out of its conundrum?