Visit to Laos, July 2016

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Mr Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, during the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 24 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Mr Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, during the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 24 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Mr Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, before the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 24 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Mr Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, before the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 24 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, for an informal dinner ahead of the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, ahead of the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Lao PDR, in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Lao PDR, in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Lao PDR, in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Lao PDR, in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, during the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, during the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE General Vijay Kumar Singh (Ret’d), Minister of State for External Affairs of India, in the margins of the 6th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFA

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE General Vijay Kumar Singh (Ret’d), Minister of State for External Affairs of India, in the margins of the 6th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Ms Retno Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, during the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Ms Retno Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, during the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Mr Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, ahead of the 6th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Mr Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, ahead of the 6th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Mr Børge Brende, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway, in the margins of the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Mr Børge Brende, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway, in the margins of the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop attends the Southwest Pacific Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop attends the Southwest Pacific Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets Chinese Foreign Minister HE Mr Wang Yi at the ASEAN 2016 Foreign Minister’s Gala Dinner in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets Chinese Foreign Minister HE Mr Wang Yi at the ASEAN 2016 Foreign Minister’s Gala Dinner in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with young Lao Rugby players from the Australian aid-funded ‘Pass it Back’ sports development program. Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with young Lao Rugby players from the Australian aid-funded ‘Pass it Back’ sports development program. Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with young Lao Rugby players from the Australian aid-funded ‘Pass it Back’ sports development program. Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with young Lao Rugby players from the Australian aid-funded ‘Pass it Back’ sports development program. Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Mr Miroslav Lacjak, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia and current EU President, during the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Mr Miroslav Lacjak, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia and current EU President, during the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop with her counterparts at the 49th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and related meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop with her counterparts at the 49th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and related meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully in Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully in Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Ambassador to Laos HE John Williams (centre right) with Australian business leaders in Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Ambassador to Laos HE John Williams (centre right) with Australian business leaders in Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets Lao women leaders in Vientiane, Laos. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets Lao women leaders in Vientiane, Laos. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets Lao women leaders in Vientiane, Laos. (L-R) Mme Vathana Dalaloy, Vice Governor of the Bank of Lao, Mme Thipphakone Chanthavongsa, Vice Minister for Finance, Mme Bounkham Vorachit, Vice Minister for Natural Resources and

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets Lao women leaders in Vientiane, Laos. (L-R) Mme Vathana Dalaloy, Vice Governor of the Bank of Lao, Mme Thipphakone Chanthavongsa, Vice Minister for Finance, Mme Bounkham Vorachit, Vice Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, Dr Souvanpheng Bouphanouvong, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, Mme Khemmani Pholsena, Minister for Industry and Commerce, Mme Baykham Khattiya, Vice Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mme Bundith Prathomvanh, Vice President of Lao Women’s Union, Mme Valy Vetsaphong, Vice President of Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop presents Bachelor degree certificates to recipients of the Laos-Australia National Scholarship (LANS) in Vientiane, Laos. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop presents Bachelor degree certificates to recipients of the Laos-Australia National Scholarship (LANS) in Vientiane, Laos. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Mme Sengdeuan Lachanthabon, Lao Minister of Education and Sport, with two high performing graduates of the Laos-Australia National Scholarship program (LANS) in Vientiane, Laos. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verwe

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Mme Sengdeuan Lachanthabon, Lao Minister of Education and Sport, with two high performing graduates of the Laos-Australia National Scholarship program (LANS) in Vientiane, Laos. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets with New Colombo Plan scholar Caitlin McQuarie (left) and Australian PhD student Luisa Olmo (right) in Vientiane, Laos. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets with New Colombo Plan scholar Caitlin McQuarie (left) and Australian PhD student Luisa Olmo (right) in Vientiane, Laos. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with Lao Foreign Minister and Monash University alumnus HE Mr Saleumxay Kommasith in Vientiane, Laos. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with Lao Foreign Minister and Monash University alumnus HE Mr Saleumxay Kommasith in Vientiane, Laos. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with ASEAN counterparts during the ASEAN-Australia Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. The meeting was co-chaired by Australia and Myanmar. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with ASEAN counterparts during the ASEAN-Australia Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. The meeting was co-chaired by Australia and Myanmar. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop cochairing the ASEAN-Australia Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop cochairing the ASEAN-Australia Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets US Secretary of State John Kerry and Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida for the 6th Ministerial Meeting of the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFA

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets US Secretary of State John Kerry and Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida for the 6th Ministerial Meeting of the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue in Vientiane, Laos. 25 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop goes for a morning run with young Lao Rugby players and coaches from the Australian aid-funded ‘Pass it Back’ sports development program. Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/ Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop goes for a morning run with young Lao Rugby players and coaches from the Australian aid-funded ‘Pass it Back’ sports development program. Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/ Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and counterparts at the 6th East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and counterparts at the 6th East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Laos. 26 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop delivers a keynote address during the Australian Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Leadership Forum in Vientiane, Laos. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop delivers a keynote address during the Australian Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Leadership Forum in Vientiane, Laos. 27 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Mr Perfecto Yasay, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, before the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 24 July 2016. Photo credit: DFAT/Bart Verweij

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meets HE Mr Perfecto Yasay, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, before the 2016 ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Vientiane, Laos. 24 July 2016.