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The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Laos President, Japan PM pledge stronger links as two nations mark 70-year ties
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (right) welcomes Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith at a Japan-Laos summit held at the Prime Minister's Office of Japan in Tokyo on May 29. - Photo: Prime Minister's Office of Japan. TOKYO: Visiting President Thongloun Sisoulith and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have agreed to deepen ties as Laos and Japan this year celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations and 60 years of Japanese volunteer missions to Laos. The two leaders pledged to deepen ties during a bilateral meeting held in Tokyo on Thursday (May 29) on the sidelines of the 30th International Conference on the Future of Asia, hosted by Nikkei Inc. The Lao President also delivered a speech at the conference. Welcoming President Thongloun to Japan, Prime Minister Ishiba expressed 'his intention to further develop the bilateral cooperation by realising the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership', the Prime Minister's Office of Japan said on its website. PM Ishiba said Japan would continue to support Laos' efforts to strengthen its economic resilience and stabilise its public finances for autonomous and quality economic development. At the same time, President Thongloun announced that starting on June 1, 2025, Laos will extend the visa-free stay period for holders of ordinary Japanese passports from 15 days to 30 days to enhance people-to-people and cultural links. President Thongloun and PM Ishiba reflected on the elevation of Lao-Japanese relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership following Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone's official visit to Japan in January. They pledged to intensify collaboration in areas of mutual interest, particularly by promoting Japanese investment in key sectors in Laos. The two leaders agreed to accelerate efforts towards the early conclusion of a tax convention, with a view to further enhancing investment and economic ties between the two countries. They also declared their intention to advance cooperation in the fields of energy and decarbonisation under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative. President Thongloun said 'he was pleased with the development of bilateral relations in a wide range of areas,' the Prime Minister's Office of Japan said. It was also noted that Japanese volunteers have made a significant contribution to Laos' development. To date, more than 1,100 Japanese volunteers and 4,500 experts have served in Laos, assisting their Lao counterparts in areas such as legal reform, justice, and public service. The leaders also expressed their pleasure at the upcoming official visit to Laos by Her Imperial Highness, Princess Aiko, in November, calling it a significant milestone for future bilateral engagement. President Thongloun expressed his appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to himself and his delegation and thanked Japan for its continued support for Laos' socio-economic development. Japan's assistance extends to development of the East-West Economic Corridor, clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO), disaster preparedness, and humanitarian assistance. The two leaders also exchanged views on key regional and international advancements and underscored their shared commitment to peace, prosperity, and inclusive development in the Asia-Pacific region. - Vientiane Times/ANN
Japan Forward
07-05-2025
- Science
- Japan Forward
Dear Children, Your Potential is as Limitless as the Universe
このページを 日本語 で読む Good morning, children! Japan's Golden Week holiday has come to an end, and many of you are getting back into the rhythm of going to bed early and waking up early. We hope the holidays were a time for you to spark your curiosity — whether about things you find interesting, wonderful, or even strange. Perhaps you went on a trip with your family. Maybe you researched the local area, transportation, or traditional foods before you went. Having a bit of background knowledge can make the experience much more enjoyable. But the destination itself isn't really what matters. Maybe you just went to a nearby park. In early May, nature is lively — plants are growing, and you can see flowers, insects, and birds. There's plenty of opportunity to discover something new. Some of you may have stayed at home, watching TV or playing games. Even then, you might have come across new words or images you didn't recognize — something that sparked your curiosity. If there's something you don't understand, ask your mom or dad for help and research it together online. I also recommend visiting your local library and looking for books related to the topic. All of this is to say, the most important question you can ask while you're young is "Why?" Kokishin — curiosity — is important. It often begins with a chance encounter. Here's an interesting story worth remembering. It's about Dr Hideki Shirakawa, who is now 88 years old and a Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry. When he was a boy, he used to help at home by cooking rice and heating the bath. One day, while using old newspapers to start the fire, he noticed something strange. The flames turned yellow instead of the usual orange. These were newspapers that had been used to wrap dried fish. Hideki Shirakawa (left) and then-Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori at the Prime Minister's Official Residence on October 18, 2000. (©Prime Minister's Office of Japan) This is known as a flame color reaction — a phenomenon where the color of the flame changes depending on the metal elements in the material being burned. In this case, salt (sodium chloride) from the dried fish reacted to the heat, turning the flame yellow. After learning this, Shirakawa began experimenting with other metals in his school lab and enjoyed seeing the different colors they produced. His curiosity eventually led him to become a world-renowned chemist. What I would like you to realize is that the "why" that sparked Dr Shirakawa's interest while helping out at home set him on the path of his future research. So, if you find something unusual, don't you want to know more about it? What's important is not to leave it at that, but to take it a step further and really think about it. Then, talk to someone about it. Even if you can't explain it perfectly, adults will listen if they see you're genuinely curious. And when you finally solve the mystery, you'll think, "Yeah, I get it!" — and feel proud of yourself. That feeling of satisfaction is very rewarding, and it makes learning even more fun. Your everyday life is full of things you don't yet know. First, recognize that. Then, build a desire to learn more, and take action. Develop your own interests — whatever they may be. Your potential is as limitless as the universe. Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
