Japan and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic,

Desiring to further promote investment in order to strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries;

Intending to further create favourable conditions for greater investment by investors of one country in the Area of the other country;

Recognising the growing importance of the progressive liberalisation of investment for stimulating initiative of investors and for promoting prosperity in both countries;

Recognising that these objectives can be achieved without relaxing health, safety and environmental measures of general application; and

Recognising the importance of the cooperative relationship between labour and management in promoting investment between both countries;

Have agreed as follows: