Myanmar's new president leaves for Laos on first foreign trip

Myanmar's new President U Htin Kyaw left here on Friday for a one-day goodwill visit to Laos, his first foreign trip after the new government took office on April 1.

At the invitation of his Lao counterpart Bounnhang Vorachitch, U Htin Kyaw is paying the visit, accompanied by State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi and the First Lady Daw Su Su Lwin.

The visit came after former Lao President Choummaly Sayasone visited Myanmar in December 2013 in which Sayasone affirmed Laos' support for Myanmar's democratization and national reconciliation efforts.

Myanmar-Lao relations and cooperation in recent years were highlighted by the opening of the first-ever friendship bridge across the Mekong River in May last year.

The bridge, linking Myanmar's Tachileik in eastern Shan state and Laos' Luang Namtha Province, was inaugurated by presidents of both countries then.

The Mekong subregion countries have greatly benefitted from the bridge located on the North Economic Corridor linking the Port of Haiphong in Vietnam and the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port in Myanmar through Laos.

Sharing a border of over 230 kilometers, the two countries established diplomatic relations in July 1955.

According to official statistics, the volume of trade between Myanmar and Laos is still low compared with that of other neighboring countries.

The two countries have been cooperating in drug control and in ensuring security, peace and stability on their territories.