Air deal: Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng and Laotian Minister of Public Works & Transport Sommad Pholsena sign the air-services agreement.

An air-services agreement has been signed with Laos, making the country Hong Kong's 60th aviation partner.

Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng and Laotian Minister of Public Works & Transport Sommad Pholsena signed the deal in Hong Kong today.

It provides a legal framework for establishing air links between Hong Kong and Laos, and will boost tourism and contribute to economic development.

"It is in our mutual interest to establish direct air links between the two places. The signing of the agreement is in line with our policy of progressive liberalisation in air services between Hong Kong and our aviation partners," Ms Cheng said.