Rustam Minnikhanov meets Head of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party External Relations Committee Thongsavanh Phomvihane

On 22 September at their meeting in the Kazan Kremlin the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the Head of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party External Relations Committee Thongsavanh Phomvihane discussed issues of developing cooperation and strengthening relations.

In particular, Rustam Minnikhanov stated that even though the trade turnover is small today there are opportunities for expansion of business relations. He said he is sure that the current visit will give a good impetus to development of mutual trade.

Speaking at the meeting, the Rais of the republic said that Laos is a longtime and reliable partner of Russia in the South-East Asia. In particular last week at the East Economic Forum in Vladivostok Russian President Vladimir Putin had a meeting with the Lao Vice-President Missis Pany Yathotou. In the whole relations between Russia and Laos develop in economic, humanitarian and inter-parliamentary spheres, he said.

Tatarstan attaches great attention to cooperation with your country within the frame work of Russia-Laos relations, Rustam Minnikhanov said and stated that high-tech products from Tatarstan such as cars, helicopters and other machinery are well known in South and South East Asian markets.

Tatarstan is one of the leading and industrially developed regions of Russia, Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized and reminded that the republic has well developed oil, refinery and petrochemical industries and manufactures cars, planes, helicopters, ships and machine-building products.

The Rais of Tatarstan added that it is also important to develop humanitarian contacts in science, education, culture, sports and tourism and proposed to consider possibility of increasing the number of Lao students at universities of Tatarstan.

In his turn Thongsavanh Phomvihane said: “Thank you for your positive viewpoint on the development of relations between Tatarstan and Laos. Our countries have very trust-based relations and I hope it will be the same with regions” and informed that during his visit he was able to get acquainted with the economic potential of the republic.

The parties agreed to analyze those spheres where interaction and cooperation will be useful.