07 November 2018•Update: 07 November 2018
By Diyar Guldogan
ANKARA
Turkey on Wednesday inaugurated its embassy in the capital of Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
"Through this embassy, this mission, we serve for the interest of both countries Laos and Turkey," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at the opening ceremony in the southeast Asian country.
Cavusoglu, who is currently in a two-day visit to capital Vientiane, is the first foreign minister who pays a visit to Laos from Turkey.
"This is my first visit. Actually this is the first visit of any Turkish foreign minister [to Laos] and I hope it will not be the last one," Cavusoglu said.
Turkey has now embassies in all Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries with the inauguration of Laos embassy, the minister added.
"For us this region, ASEAN region and Asia are so important. With this embassy, now we have reached 240 missions, including the consulate missions, in all over the world," Cavusoglu said.
He added Turkey wants to increase the number to 269 in two years.
Laotian Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith said he was pleased to welcome his Turkish counterpart in Vientiane.
"We look forward to working closely with you and your embassy here and to further enhance our bilateral relations and cooperation," Kommasith said.
