STATE VISIT. Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong waves to the crowd upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 Thursday, May 10, 2012. Prime Minister Thammavong is in the Philippines for a two-day state visit. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III Thursday received Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong in Malacañang at the start of the latter’s three-day official visit to the Philippines.
Aquino and Thongsing exchanged views on regional issues involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Asia-Europe Meeting.
They also witnessed the signing of four agreements between the governments.
Concluded at the Palace, among other things, were a cooperation agreement between the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry; a memorandum of understanding related to agriculture between the University of the Philippines in Los Baños and the University of Laos.
On Saturday, Thongsing will visit the Asian Institute of Management and then have lunch with Lao students and nationals at the Lao embassy in Makati City.