Ambassador Nkubito Manzi Bakuramutsa on February 8 presented his letters of credence to President Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos during a ceremony held at the National Assembly in the Southeast Asian country’s capital Vientiane. Amb François-Xavier Ngarambe who presented his letters of credence to the country’s former President, Choummaly Sayasone, in January 2011, was the first Rwandan envoy accredited to Laos since the two countries established diplomatic relations on August 31, 2009. ALSO READ: Rwanda, Lao People’s Democratic Republic seek to strengthen ties With residence in Seoul, Bakuramutsa is also accredited to Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR or LPDR), and the Kingdom of Cambodia. Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. A statement from the Rwandan embassy notes that during the presentation of credentials, President Sisoulith praised the burgeoning relationship between the two nations. “He extended an invitation to Ambassador Bakuramutsa to play an active role as a liaison for fostering enhanced bilateral cooperation and exchanges between Laos and Rwanda,” the statement reads. As noted, President Sisoulith highlighted Laos’ strides in social and economic development and expressed readiness to share development experiences with partner countries in Africa and beyond. President Sisoulith underscored the potential for strengthening trade and investment ties, particularly in sustainable energy, mining, and other sectors. “Ambassador Bakuramutsa conveyed warm greetings from His Excellency President Paul Kagame and the people of Rwanda to President Sisoulith. He expressed eagerness to further elevate bilateral relations, focusing on enhancing partnership in trade, tourism, and exchanging innovative development solutions,” adds the statement. The Ambassador also lauded Laos’ efforts in promoting green energy, regionally and globally. Furthermore, he extended congratulations to President Sisoulith on Laos assuming the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2024. Laos is known for its mountainous terrain and ancient Buddhist temples and monasteries. Laos has a population of 7.7 million with an annual economic growth of 4%. Laos, located at the heart of the Indochinese peninsula, is bounded to the north by China, to the northeast and east by Vietnam, to the south by Cambodia, to the west by Thailand, and to the northwest by Myanmar. Its capital city, Vientiane, is on the border with Thailand. Other large cities are Savannakhet, Champasak and Luang Prabang.
