Hanoi: Singapore has reaffirmed its enduring ties with Laos, celebrating both its 61st National Day and the 25th anniversary of bilateral development cooperation with the Lao PDR. Speaking at a commemorative reception in Vientiane on 27 August 2026, Singapore's Ambassador to Laos, Ong Siew Gay, highlighted the milestone as a testament to the deep, longstanding friendship between the two nations.
According to Lao News Agency, the event was attended by high-level dignitaries, including National Assembly Vice President Vilayvong Bouddakham, Minister of Technology and Communications Santisouk Simmalavong, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organisations, and alumni of Singaporean training programmes. Ambassador Ong reflected on Singapore's journey since gaining independence on 9 August 1965 under volatile regional and domestic conditions, noting the transformation into a global hub for aviation, maritime trade, logistics, and finance.
Ambassador Ong emphasized that Singapore must continually adapt and innovate to remain relevant and ensure its long-term future. He highlighted the evolution of Southeast Asia into a unified community through ASEAN and stressed the importance of deepening integration, strengthening external partnerships, and upholding a rules-based regional order.
The partnership between Singapore and Laos began in earnest in 2001, marked by the rollout of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and the opening of the Laos-Singapore Cooperation Centre in Vientiane. Ambassador Ong pointed out that human resource development is the cornerstone of bilateral cooperation, with nearly 18,000 public servants from Laos having participated in development courses under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP).
The reception concluded with a shared commitment from both countries to build on this 25-year foundation, deepening collaboration and mutual support in the years ahead.