Joint Declaration between the United States of America and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- On the occasion of
his historic state visit to Lao P.D.R., President Barack Obama and
President Bounnhang Vorachit held talks today in Vientiane where they
officially inaugurated the Comprehensive Partnership between the Lao
P.D.R. and the United States of America. Through this partnership,
the United States and the Lao P.D.R. are opening a new era of bilateral
relations based on mutual respect, common interests and a shared desire to
heal the wounds of the past to build a foundation for the future.
- President Obama
and President Bounnhang Vorachit decided to form a U.S.-Lao P.D.R.
Comprehensive Partnership for advancing the relationship. They
underlined the principles of the U.S.-Lao P.D.R. Comprehensive
Partnership, including respect for the United Nations Charter,
international law, and each other’s political systems, independence,
sovereignty, and territorial integrity. They stated that the
Comprehensive Partnership is intended to contribute to peace, stability,
cooperation, and prosperity in each country, in the region, and in the
world. The new Comprehensive Partnership will create mechanisms for
cooperation in areas including political and diplomatic relations, trade
and economic ties, science and technology, education and training,
environment and health, humanitarian cooperation, war legacy issues,
security, protection and promotion of human rights, and people-to-people
ties.
Political
and Diplomatic Cooperation
- As part of the
U.S.-Lao P.D.R. Comprehensive Partnership, the two sides committed to
increase high-level exchanges as well as contacts at all levels, and to
intensify dialogue and cooperation mechanisms. President Obama
affirmed the United States’ support for Lao P.D.R.’s independence,
sovereignty, prosperity, and integration into the international
community. President Bounnhang Vorachit welcomed the United States’
enhanced cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, which contributes to the
peace, stability, and prosperity of the region.
- The two leaders
welcomed the establishment of a regular dialogue between their foreign
ministries, and encouraged dialogues and exchanges between entities
associated with political parties in both countries.
- President Obama
and President Bounnhang Vorachit committed to enhance cooperation at
regional and international fora including the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia
Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM+) to
support peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the Asia-Pacific
region. The two leaders reaffirmed their support for the settlement
of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law.
They also reaffirmed their support for not resorting to the threat or use
of force in resolving disputes.
- Both leaders
welcomed the progress made under the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) and
Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) in recent years. Therefore, the two
presidents reaffirmed their governments’ commitment to work closely
together, along with other LMI and FLM members, to further strengthen
cooperation through the effective implementation of projects and programs
under the LMI Master Plan of Action 2016-2020 and the Sustainable
Infrastructure Partnership, to enhance regional connectivity and narrow
the development gaps among member countries as well as promote sustainable
socio-economic development and the well-being of people in the Mekong
region.
War Legacy
Issues
- President Obama
and President Bounnhang Vorachit confirmed that comprehensive cooperation
in addressing war legacy issues to deepen mutual trust has allowed both
countries to develop a relationship that looks to the future. To
address the impact caused by unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos, President
Obama announced that the United States intends to contribute $90 million
over three years for a national UXO survey and clearance of UXO in
Laos. President Bounnhang Vorachit welcomed the U.S. government’s
continued commitment to clear UXO, assist UXO victims, prevent future
casualties, and develop local capacity to ensure sustainability of this
work.
Humanitarian
Cooperation
- President Obama
expressed his appreciation for the Lao P.D.R.’s continued cooperation in
providing for the fullest possible accounting for U.S. personnel missing
from the war, including its recent steps to increase the efficiency of
joint search efforts. The two sides would continue to meet
semi-annually for technical discussions on mission planning and strive to
complete the mission in a timely and efficient manner.
Trade
and Economic Ties
- President Obama
and President Bounnhang Vorachit welcomed the signing earlier this year of
a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement between the two
countries. The Agreement will strengthen trade ties and form a basis
for expanding streams of commerce between the two nations.
- The two leaders
recognized the importance of protecting the most vulnerable populations
while pursuing economic development and upholding international labor
standards, including combatting child labor, forced labor, and human
trafficking.
- President Obama
welcomed President Bounnhang Vorachit’s commitment to pursuing steps to
uphold international labor standards that could pave the way for the
United States to grant the Lao P.D.R. benefits under the Generalized
System of Preferences.
Education
Cooperation
- President Obama
and President Bounnhang Vorachit affirmed the need to enhance educational,
cultural, and people-to-people ties between the United States and Lao
P.D.R. President Obama announced an initial basic education program,
which focuses on improving early grade reading outcomes, and that Laos
would be a Let Girls Learn Challenge Fund country, which would make Laos
eligible for additional U.S. government funding for adolescent girls
education. The two leaders noted the positive outcomes of the ongoing
U.S. Government-funded School Feeding Program, for which the U.S.
Government is currently providing over $27 million in funding over five
years. They remarked on the rapid growth of English language
programs in Lao P.D.R. and confirmed that close cooperation on education
and training are critical elements to the next phase of the
relationship. The leaders noted that robust English language
instruction would contribute to the Lao P.D.R.'s effective collaboration
with other ASEAN nations for their mutual educational, cultural and social
development as well as its competitiveness in the 21st century global
economy. President Obama and President Bounnhang Vorachit noted the
success of bilateral education and exchange initiatives, especially the
Fulbright program. The leaders noted the need for continued
discussions on a Peace Corps program in Laos.
Health
and Nutrition
- The two leaders
welcomed the establishment of the Lao-American Nutrition Institute, which
will align with Laos’s efforts to meet its Sustainable Development Goals,
and ensure Lao children receive the nutrition they need for healthy
lives. They also took note of a new three-year, $6 million USAID
program that will improve community sanitation and mother and infant
feeding practices in targeted districts, in line with the Lao government’s
Multi-Sectoral Food and Nutrition Security Action Plan. President Obama
reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to providing further medical and
other care and assistance for persons with disabilities, regardless of
cause. President Bounnhang Vorachit expressed his appreciation for
the U.S. government’s continued support through the President's Emergency
Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for Lao P.D.R.’s efforts to build
sustainable systems for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care.
- President Obama
and President Bounnhang Vorachit made a commitment to jointly advance the
Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), including formally endorsing the
GHSA and through bilateral efforts to develop a five-year roadmap to
bolster national capacity in Laos to prevent, detect, and respond to
biological threats and to fully implement the International Health
Regulations. As part of this commitment, Laos will join the GHSA
multilateral effort in 2016 and will undergo and publish a Joint External
Evaluation (JEE) of its national capabilities. The United States has
recently undergone and publically shared the results of its JEE.
Environment
- President Obama
and President Bounnhang Vorachit affirmed the importance of addressing
climate change and resolved to support robust and transparent
implementation of the historic Paris Agreement. Following the United
States formally joining the Paris Agreement, President Bounnhang Vorachit
stated that the Lao P.D.R. has completed its domestic procedures to ratify
the Paris Agreement and will formally join the Agreement this year.
Both leaders called on all nations to support the Agreement’s rapid entry
into force in 2016. Both leaders affirmed their commitment to adopt
an ambitious and comprehensive hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) phase-down
amendment in 2016 within the Montreal Protocol, and support the adoption
of a global market-based measure at the upcoming Assembly of the
International Civil Aviation Organization for implementation from 2020.
- President Obama
and President Bounnhang Vorachit welcomed increasing bilateral cooperation
to promote sustainable development and management of hydropower and
forestry resources, as well as adaptation to climate change and response
to natural disasters. The two countries pledged to promote a low
greenhouse gas development pathway, including clean power sources that
minimize environmental and climate impacts.
- The two leaders
also committed to work together, along with their LMI partners, to promote
scientific research, capacity-building, investment, and dialogue to ensure
the sustainable development of the Mekong River. They committed to
increase cooperation to reduce wildlife trafficking and other
environmental crimes, in accordance with the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Security
- President Obama
and President Bounnhang Vorachit confirmed that the United States and Lao
P.D.R. would continue to cooperate on defense and security through annual
Bilateral Defense Dialogues and associated working groups. The two
Presidents committed to expand mutually beneficial cooperation to enhance
capabilities such as UXO clearance, search and rescue and disaster
response. The two sides also underscored the importance of enhanced
cooperation in non-traditional security matters and confirmed that they
would work more closely to counter terrorism; combat transnational crime
including narcotics, human, and wildlife trafficking; and address
high-tech crime and cyber security.
Promotion
and Protection of Human Rights
- President Obama
and President Bounnhang Vorachit took note of the benefits of a candid and
open dialogue to enhance mutual understanding and narrow differences on
human rights. They emphasized the importance of protection and
promotion of human rights, the rule of law, and the rights of religious
believers. In this regard, President Obama noted the crucial role of
civil society. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the
United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. The United States and Lao P.D.R. also committed to include informal
consultation on human rights within the annual Comprehensive Bilateral
Dialogue.
People-to-People
Ties
- President
Bounnhang Vorachit and President Obama highlighted the importance of
enhanced cooperation through strengthening people-to-people ties.
They took note of the positive contributions that the people of the Lao
P.D.R. and the United States, including the Lao-American community, can
make to the strengthening of bilateral ties. The two leaders
encouraged more people-to-people exchanges that focus on solving shared
global challenges, with particular focus on encouraging youth leadership
and entrepreneurship.
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