Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed Malaysia’s deep appreciation for Laos' commitment and cooperation in strengthening bilateral and regional ties, particularly in support of Malaysia’s Asean Chairmanship this year.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his counterpart from Laos, Sonexay Siphandone, who is on a three-day official visit to Malaysia, Anwar praised the Lao authorities for their continued collaboration, noting that the country has played a key role in ensuring a smooth transition and ongoing coordination for Asean activities.
00:00Prime Minister Sonensei Sipandon from the Lao PDR, who comes here not only as Prime Minister but also a good friend.
00:18We share many views. They have been extremely helpful in all our bilateral meetings and my official visit to Lao PDR and when they hosted the ASEAN retreat and also hit the government meeting last year.
00:38Since then, under his stewardship, they have been extremely helpful in assisting and collaborating with our team in Malaysia when we took a turn to host from early this year.
00:57So may I, on behalf of the government and people of Malaysia, express my appreciation and thanks.
01:05We have had, of course, fruitful discussions. The mere fact that four leading banks from Malaysia is operating in Lao PDR, Maybank, RHB, CIMB and Public Bank.
01:28So with the four banks there, it shows the confidence in the country, political system and also the stability and also attractive investment policies and the manner the central banks managing the affairs of the financial institutions.
01:49And through that as a base, there would be certainly more interest for our companies to invest in Vietnam and in Lao PDR and Cambodia and Thailand as part of our ASEAN arrangement.
02:07We have also embarked from, as we agreed in the initial ASEAN discussions, this ASEAN power grid that need to go to Lao PDR and Thailand into Malaya and Singapore.
02:22But as the first phase, it is Vietnam's first phase, Vietnam's first phase, Vietnam's first phase, Vietnam's first phase.
02:29But I agree with Prime Minister Sunan Sia Sipandong that we should fast-track the second phase so that to benefit Lao PDR, Cambodia and Thailand into Malaya and Singapore.
02:47We will certainly take it up during the retreat of heads of government of ASEAN.
02:54The other very pertinent issue is the inland port that we have in Perlis and the port, Tanaleng, yes, Tanaleng port in Lao.
03:09And it is progressing well due to completion very fast this year.
03:16Now, with that, we are expanding the facility and now we have signed the understanding with Penang port so that the flow of goods from Penang into Perlis and to the inland port in Tanaleng.
03:33And that would showcase a very important collaboration in terms of, of course, port but then also trade investments between our two friendly countries.
03:48The other issues that we discussed, of course, relates to the collaboration in terms of training in all fields including port management.
03:58I have mentioned that Penang port and, of course, Klang and PTP would certainly be of service to make sure that there is more effective collaboration in training and also sharing our common expertise.
04:15Then, issue of labour, issue of digital AI and semiconductor, we discussed issue of alternative energy, rare earth included, to make sure that we expand from existing collaboration,
04:34including the KTMB-LNR-SE memorandum of collaboration on the ASEAN express train, which would significantly shorten the time of travel between these countries, ASEAN into China.
04:56We are, of course, both of us will be attending the ASEAN meetings, including his government and the retreat, following that with GCC, all GCC countries well represented.
05:12That collaboration is unique to benefit both regions, both vibrant economically, and then following that with Premier Li Chiang of China.
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