Philippine President Ends Visit to Laos

   HANOI, October 18 (Xinhua)-- Philippine President Fidel 
Ramos today  concluded a two-day state visit to Laos, in 
which five agreements were  signed, and both sides called 
the trip a "historical event" for  bilateral ties.
   Ramos, the first Philippine head of state to visit the 
Lao People's  Democratic Republic since its foundation, 
arrived in the capital,  Vientiane, Friday.
   During the visit, he held talks with Lao President 
Nouhak Phoumsavanh  and Prime Minister Khamtay Siphandone 
in "an atmosphere of friendship  and frankness," a joint 
press communique said.
   It said both sides reviewed and highly appreciated the 
growing  friendship and cooperation, and agreed to further 
ties in the future.
   The visit was "an historical event, opening a new era of 
closer  friendship and strengthened co-operation between 
Laos and the  Philippines," the communique said.
   Both sides hoped to contribute to regional stability and 
prosperity and  to the progress and well-being of their 
people through closer  partnership and cooperation.
   They discussed the possibility of creating a "growth 
polygon,"  encompassing the northwest and southwest 
Philippines, Laos, northeast  Thailand, Vietnam and 
Cambodia in line with ASEAN's thrust to encourage  creation 
of sub-regional growth centers.
   The visit also resulted in five documents, including the 
exemption of  visas for holders of official passports, co-
operation against illicit  trafficking and abuses of 
narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances.
   Ramos invited the Lao prime minister to visit the 
Philippines in  December.


RP Laos sign 2 agreements  

Philippine News Agency

    VIENTIANE, Laos,, Oct. 17 (PNA) - - The Philippines and 
the Lao People's Democratic Republic today signed two 
agreements on cultural and public health cooperation, 
including technical collaboration on malaria control.
    The signing coincided with the state visit of President 
Ramos, the first Filipino President to visit Laos, one of 
the two newest member of the Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations (Asean). The other member is Myanmar.
    Signatories to the public health cooperation were 
Philippine Secretary of Health Carmencita Reodica and Laos 
Health Minister Ponmek Daraloy.
    The two countries agreed to cooperate in the 
improvement of public health services for the people of 
both countries with emphasis on primary health care.
   They also agreed to undertake cooperation activities in 
the prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of 
communicable and non-communicable public health diseases 
and shall inform each other of the occurrence in epidemic 
proportions.
   Laos and the Philippines will also exchange  
experiences, studies and researches in the fields of public 
health, public health administration and medical science.
   The two Asean members will also undertake a malaria 
control program. They will exchange health experts and 
participate in the study and training courses in malaria 
control.
   Also signed was an agreement on cultural cooperation 
that includes education, mass media, journalism and sports.
   There will be reciprocal visits of professors and 
experts who will deliver lectures, conduct special courses 
and conduct study tours.
   The agreement also stipulates on the exchange of artists 
and conduct art and other exhibitions, exchange of films, 
documentaries, radio and television program recordings and 
recordings on discs and tapes.
    The President's visit is expected to expand bilateral 
ties and trade relations between the Philippines and Laos.
   He will return Saturday to Manila via Subic Bay in 
Zambales.
   More than 20 Filipino business executives are 
accompanying the President's visit to explore opportunities 
in Laos, a vast land with a total area of 236,800 square 
kilometers and a population of 4.5 million.
   Vientiane is the capital of Laos which was established 
as a republic on December 2, 1975.
    Laos has an abundance of untapped natural resources 
such as tin iron, coal, zinc, copper, gold, silver, 
sulphur, antimony and many more.
   Forty-seven percent of the country's land area is  
covered by forest.
   The Lao People's Democratic Republic is criss-crossed by 
many rivers and streams. The Mckong River stretches 1,835 
kilometers from north to south.
   Rivers and streams provide great potential for hydro-
power development.