RP and Laos set to forge an air agreement  

Philippine News Agency
   MANILA, Dec. 24 (PNA) - The Philippines and the Lao 
People's Democratic Republic or Laos will shortly sign an 
air service agreement that will enable Philippine air 
carriers to fly to Vientianne, its capital.
   Agreement on the air service accord between the two 
countries was one of the highlights of Laos Prime Minister 
Khamtay Siphandone's just concluded first visit to Manila.
   Philippine President Fidel Ramos visited Laos last 
October 17-18 in the course of an Asian swing as part of his 
country's recent assumption of the chairmanship of the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to which Laos 
was admitted only last July,
   While in Manila, Prime Minister Siphandone also witness 
with President Ramos the signing of two agreements on 
Agriculture and Forestry Cooperation, and on Economic and 
Technical Cooperation.
   A joint Philippine-Laos statement said the two agreements 
will be most beneficial to both countries since the 
Philippines has a lot to offer Laos in terms of mutually 
beneficial technical expertise and training programs which 
the Vientianne government urgently needs.