On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I extend my best wishes to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic as we celebrate 55 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries this August 10.
On this occasion, the United States reaffirms our commitment to the peaceful and prosperous development of Laos and our desire to work as partners on areas of mutual concern. We appreciate Lao assistance as we work toward accounting for our POW/MIAs and underscore our commitment to help Laos clear unexploded munitions. Our collaboration through the Lower Mekong Initiative to protect and preserve the environment, create healthy communities, support education and develop regional infrastructure further illustrates how close cooperation benefits both our countries and the region. I look forward to working with the Lao Government and people to continue strengthening our partnership and building on the successes we have achieved.
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