MANILA – Laos Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh is arriving in Manila tonight (Thursday, June 7) for a three-day official visit which aims to further strengthen bilateral ties with the Philippines in the fields of economy, trade, culture, tourism and politics
Vice President Noli de Castro will welcome Bouphavanh at around 7:30 p.m. at the Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
It is the first official visit of Bouphavanh to the Philippines since being elected prime minister in June 2006.
Bouphavanh first visited the country when he attended the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit held in Cebu last January.
Bouphavanh will be received by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo tomorrow afternoon (Friday, June 8) in Malaca?ang, where they will hold their expanded bilateral meeting.
The two leaders are also scheduled to witness the signing of a bilateral agreement on the promotion and protection of investments between Laos and the Philippines.
Born on June 3, 1954 in Ban Tao Poun, Muang Salavan, Salavan Province, Bouphavanh was officially elected Prime Minister of Laos by the National Assembly during a major government reshuffle on June 8, 2006.
He replaced Bounnhang Vorachith, who became vice president.
Bouphavanh had previously served as first deputy prime minister since Oct. 3, 2003. Prior to this, he was third deputy prime minister and was president of the State Planning Committee.
Trained in the Soviet Union and appointed prime minister at the age of 52, Bouasone, an active student activist in his school days, is part of a new generation of leaders in the Lao Peoples Democratic Revolutionary Party. He ranks seventh in the Politburo. (OPS) (davaotoday.com)
