Pasalao

President Choummaly, who departed Vientiane on Friday, met Mr Ban on Sunday at the UN Headquarters in New York.

“Mr Choummaly Sayasone informed the UN Secretary General that the Lao PDR would announce its ratification of two international conventions,” the press release said.

Laos will also sign the Convention against Torture.

Earlier in the talks, Mr Ban welcomed and thanked the Lao president for participating in the above-mentioned two meetings.

Mr Ban expressed thanks through the president to the Lao government and people for the warm hospitality extended to him during his official visit to Laos in 2009.

He congratulated the government and people of Laos for their achievements in socio-economic development and progress toward the MDGs, the press release said.

Mr Ban praised and highly valued Laos' leading role in the Convention on Cluster Munitions process (also known as the Oslo process), and its commitment to hosting the first meeting of states party to the convention, which is scheduled to take place in Vientiane in November.

T he Lao president expressed thanks to Mr Ban for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation.

The upcoming UN H igh-level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals - or MDG summit - is of great significance for UN member states to review the progress made in implementing the MDGs, according to the pres s release.

The summit will also formulate measures to accelerate progress towards achieving the MDGs by 2015 as planned.

President Choummaly praised the leading, coordinative role of the UN on cooperation development including implementation of the MDGs in the Lao PDR.

He also said the Lao government has supported efforts to reform the working system of UN networking agencies.

President Choummaly also informed the UN Secretary General of preparations by Laos to host the 10th Roundtable Meeting in Vientiane from October 20-21 to mobilise funding for socio-economic development.