Deputy Minister of Foreign Affair Mr. Phoxay Khaykhamphithoun received in Vientiane on July 26 a courtesy call from new Resident Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to the Lao PDR Mr Bakhtiyor Kadyrov.

Founded in 1969, UNFPA is the lead United Nations sexual and reproductive health and rights agency working in more than 150 countries to ensure every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every woman and girl can reach her fullest potential.

Expressing a warm welcome to the UNFPA official, Mr. Phoxay highly valued the sound relationship and cooperation UNFPA has been sharing with the Lao PDR.

He also expressed confidence that under the leadership of the new resident representative of UNFPA to Laos, UNFPA will continue to enhance cooperation with and provide assistance to the Lao PDR, especially in the fields of population and development, in line with the priorities of the 9th five-year National Socio-economic Development Plan of Laos and Laos-UNFPA cooperation strategy.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs also asked UNFPA Laos to continue to support the government’s efforts in implementing the action plan of the UN International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD POA), Laos’ commitment to the ICPD 25 action plan, and other international development agendas, as well as the country’s preparation for graduating from the status of the least developed countries.

In reply, Mr Bakhtiyor Kadyrov expressed his delight at being tasked to work in the Lao PDR, and assured the host that he and his UNFPA Laos team will continue to strengthen cooperation with the government of Laos to fulfill the latter’s development priorities.

Source: Lao News Agency