President Lee Myung-bak met with Laotian Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong on Wednesday and discussed ways to expand cooperation in energy and resources as well as development aid between the two countries, the presidential office said.

Thongsing arrived in Seoul earlier Wednesday for a two-day visit that also includes talks with South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and a business forum aimed at promoting investment in the Southeast Asian nation.

During the summit, Lee said he appreciated that relations between the two countries have steadily moved forward since they were normalized in 1995, and asked Thongsing for greater support for South Korean firms trying to expand their presence in resources development in Laos, the presidential office said.

South Korea first set up diplomatic ties with Laos in 1974, but broke them off the following year when the southeastern Asian country became communist. Relations were re-established in 1995.

North Korea has maintained diplomatic relations with Laos since 1974.

Thongsing praised South Korea's economic development and expressed hope for greater development cooperation with South Korea, the office said. He also briefed Lee on Laos' preparations to host a summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting in November and asked for Lee's participation in the meeting.

Lee wished Laos a successful hosting of the summit, the office said.

(Yonhap News)