Malaysia is committed to exploring new business opportunities in Laos that could benefit both countries and is looking forward to enhancing bilateral cooperation, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. The sectors include defence, banking and finance, education, tourism and human resources, Anwar said in a statement today. "Malaysia welcomes the commencement of the ASEAN Express Train that connects Malaysia and China, through Thailand and Laos, which will facilitate movement of passengers and freight, and potentially increase inter-ASEAN trade," he said. Anwar had earlier held a bilateral meeting with the Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in the Lao capital city. Malaysia is also committed to provide Laos with Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) training courses for capacity building. Malaysia, the next chair for the grouping, also congratulated Sonexay for Laos' remarkable leadership as the 2024 ASEAN chair. Earlier, Anwar had a courtesy call from Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. Both countries agreed to further cooperate in financial technology, including Islamic finance, pharmaceutical, aerospace and banking. Anwar also congratulated Luxembourg's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. The treaty was established in 1976 and embodied universal principles of peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation among Southeast Asian states. It is a legally binding code for inter-state relations in the region and beyond. At the closing ceremony, Laos passed the baton with Anwar symbolically taking over the ASEAN chairmanship. Malaysia held the ASEAN chairmanship four times, in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015. Founded on Aug 8, 1967, ASEAN comprises 10 member states, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam. c Source: BERNAMA News Agency