Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I can say, after visiting Laos three weeks ago, that the government and indeed the community of Laos are enormously grateful to Australia for the aid that, among other things, funds demining of unexploded ordnance in the north of that country; funds operations on youngsters in the Vientiane hospital; restores the sight of Laotians with sight impairment and blindness; and provides university scholarships for 70 young Laotians. I was honoured to be there on behalf of Australia to hand out those scholarships.

I have to say that, in my meetings with the leaders of Laos—the Prime Minister, the foreign minister and other ministers— I encountered nothing but warm-hearted friendship and gratitude for the Australian aid partnership. All Australians can be proud of our contribution to this developing country. On Kiribati, what other nation has enlisted itself— (Time expired)