LDP Secretary-General Yamasaki met on May 21st in Tokyo with Mr. Bounnhang Vorachit, the Prime Minister of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos, who is currently visiting Japan. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1991 and will chair the Association's summit in 2004.
  At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Vorachit expressed his deep appreciation for the many kinds of economic assistance Japan has provided to Laos. He also expressed his thanks for the work being done to improve the lives of the Laotian people by Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers.
  In response, Secretary-General Yamasaki explained that steady progress is being made in building friendly relations between Japan and Laos and stressed the idea that the relationship between Japan and ASEAN is as important to Japan's diplomacy as Japan's relationship with the United States and that with China. He also expressed his hope that Japan will deepen its relationship with Laos in the future not only through government to government contacts, but also through increased exchange between political parties (the Liberal Democratic Party and the People's Revolutionary Party). Finally, the Secretary-General asked that Mr. SAITO Toshitsugu, Director-General of the LDP's International Bureau and Chairman of the Japan-Laos Parliamentarians Friendship League, work diligently in his capacity as the LDP's principal international liaison to actively promote such exchanges.