Laotian prime minister calls Russia his second home

MOSCOW, September 26. /TASS/. Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith said Russia has always been his country’s friend and called it his second home. "I’m very glad to again return to Moscow, Russia, which I consider my second home because I spent nine years of my life here," Sisoulith said in Russian at a meeting with Russia’s Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko. "Today I came to Moscow and I have warm memories about my student years," said the prime minister, who studied in Moscow and St. Petersburg during the 1970s and the 1980s. Sisoulith said he has not spoken Russian for a long time, but he tries to read and watch TV in the Russian language. "Laos has always viewed Russia as its strategic partner and friend. We encourage you to cultivate our friendship," he said. After the greetings, the prime minister continued the meeting in the Lao language and Sinava Souphanouvong, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines of Laos, who speaks Russian fluently, served as his interpreter. "On behalf of the Laotian government, I would like to express (our) gratitude that Russia has provided, is providing and will provide great support for training our staff, developing the economy and bolstering defense capabilities," Sisoulith stressed. Many members of the delegation from Laos, who arrived in Moscow with the prime minister, had studied in the Soviet Union and speak Russian. Laotian Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Read more