This was the first international seminar held in Laos by KIEP, at which experts from Korea and Laos participated to explore ways to expand Korea's cooperation for agricultural development and development in the Mekong region.

In his opening speech, President Heungchong Kim of KIEP predicted that as the international community continues to expand approaches to the development of the Mekong basin, the demand for cooperation between the international community and the Mekong region will increase. President Heungchong Kim also stressed that Korea has strengthened cooperation in developing the Mekong basin, elevating its cooperation with the Mekong region in 2019, and that this stance should be further expanded in the future.

Related experts such as Director-General Sitthiroth Rasphone of DRI, Deputy Director General Thatheva Saphangthong of the Department of Agriculture Land Management, Professor Taeyoon Kim of Seoul National University, and Dr. Ina Choi of KIEP attended the seminar to evaluate the achievements of bilateral cooperation and discuss ways to expand cooperation and practical tasks in the future.

In the first session, under the theme of “Promoting Lao PDR-ROK Bilateral Development Cooperation on Agriculture,” Professor Taeyoon Kim of Seoul National University presented the achievements and tasks of cooperation in the agricultural field between the two countries, and Deputy Director General Thatheva Saphangthong of the Department of Agriculture Land Management participated as a discussant.

In the second session, Dr. Ina Choi of KIEP, Deputy Secretary General Oudomsack Philavong of Lao National Mekong Committee Secretariat presented under the theme of "Building a Partnership for the Mekong Sub-Regional Development," and Principal Researcher Jaewan Cheong of KIEP, Director Viengsay Sophachanh of Lao National Mekong Committee Secretariat, Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment exchanged their views on the direction of Korea-Laos cooperation for the development of the Mekong region.

- Theme: The Way Forward for Lao PDR-ROK Partnership

- Date: August 24, 2022, 09:00~14:00 (local time in Laos)

- Venue: Lao Plaza Hotel Conference Room

- Organization: Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), Development Research Institute (DRI)

- Contact: So Eun Kim, Researcher, Southeast Asia and Oceania Team (kse@kiep.go.kr)