US President Barack Obama was hosted a welcoming ceremony by his host counterpart Bounnhang Vorachit in Vientiane yesterday. 

President Barack Obama is on a three-day state visit, Sep 5-8, in response to an invitation from President Bounnhang Vorachit, to enhance the ties and cooperation between the Lao PDR and the United States and attend the summits related to the 28^th and 29^th ASEAN Summits. 

On the occasion of this historic visit, President Obama and President Vorachit unveiled a Comprehensive Partnership between the Lao P.D.R. and the United States of America, and explored areas for future cooperation.

Through this partnership, the United States and the Lao P.D.R. are opening a new era of bilateral relations based on mutual respect, common interests, and a shared desire to heal the wounds of the past to build a foundation for the future.

The new Comprehensive Partnership will create mechanisms for cooperation in areas including political and diplomatic relations, trade and economic ties, education and training, environment and health, war legacy issues, security, human rights, and people-to-people ties.

The US President is expected to attend the 4^th U.S.-ASEAN Summit and the 11^th East Asia Summit and have bilateral meetings with key officials to advance Laos - U.S. cooperation on economics, development, and people-to-people ties, among other areas.

President Obama will also participate in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Summit, where he will hold a town hall meeting.  

During the ASEAN Summit, President Obama will discuss ways to strengthen economic cooperation with the countries of Southeast Asia and further enhance collaboration on regional and global challenges.

At the East Asia Summit, President Obama will coordinate with the region’s leaders on efforts to advance a rule-based international order.