Author: lwadmin

Vientiane: The Lao PDR and Vietnam are intensifying their partnership in agriculture, aiming to attract increased Vietnamese investment, tackle existing business challenges, and promote sustainable agricultural production to benefit farmers, consumers, and the broader economy.

According to Lao News Agency, on September 3, 2026, Dr. Linkham Douangsavanh, a Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Agriculture and Environment, met with Mr. Nguyen Minh Tam, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Lao PDR, alongside his delegation at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

The meeting was part of efforts to implement strategic cooperation directives from the senior leaders of both Parties and nations, building on the successes of their bilateral cooperation in recent years. Discussions focused on attracting Vietnamese investment in Laos’ agriculture sector and finding solutions to the challenges faced by current enterprises. Plans for an investment promotion conference centered on agriculture in the Lao PDR were also discussed.

Dr. Linkham emphasized the importance of converting high-level directives into tangible outcomes, highlighting the potential of modern agricultural investment projects in enhancing production capacity, creating jobs, and contributing to sustainable agricultural development. Increased investment and technological collaboration could help Lao farmers boost productivity, adopt modern methods, and access new markets, strengthening domestic food security and expanding commercial agriculture.

Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam expressed gratitude to the Lao Government and the Ministry for their ongoing support of Vietnamese enterprises in Laos. He expressed optimism that enhanced cooperation would further solidify bilateral ties, promoting sustainable agricultural development and food security.

Both parties agreed on the necessity of sharing expertise, supporting each other, and enhancing long-term production capabilities to foster stronger agricultural growth and mutual benefits for the people of Laos and Vietnam.

Vientiane: An exhibition titled ‘Ho Chi Minh – Portrait of a Man’ attracted numerous Lao officials and people, Vietnamese community and international friends in Vientiane from August 27-31. The display features 50 paintings by the late overseas Vietnamese artist Dao Trong Ly created between 2018 and 2024. Co-hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, the Vietnam Cultural Centre in Laos and the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, it serves as both a cultural highlight for Vietnam’s 81st National Day (September 2) and a bridge for Vietnam-Laos special solidarity.

According to Lao News Agency, Lao Minister of Culture and Tourism Suonsavan Vinhaket praised the works’ ideological depth, saying that they depict President Ho Chi Minh’s arduous struggle to liberate Vietnam and oppressed peoples across the Indochinese Peninsula.

On September 2, officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and Vietnamese representative agencies in Singapore paid floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh before his statue at the Asian Civilisations Museum. Earlier, a large number of Vietnamese people living, working, and studying in Singapore offered 81 lotus flowers to Ho Chi Minh, one for each year of independence, in tribute to his contributions to the Party and nation. The embassy held a ceremony marking the occasion on August 24.

Vientiane: An event celebrating Japan’s tourism and educational opportunities, ‘Discover JAPAN – Let’s Discover Japan Together,’ will take place in Vientiane on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Supported by the Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDR, the event aims to introduce participants to Japan as both an attractive travel destination and a place for education.

According to Lao News Agency, the event will provide an opportunity for people interested in visiting, studying, and experiencing Japan to gain useful information and connect with representatives involved in these fields. The event will feature a range of activities designed to inform and entertain visitors.

A Special Seminar will bring together representatives from travel companies, who will share information about tourism opportunities in Japan. Participants will also have the chance to learn more about opportunities and pathways for studying in Japan. Adding an interactive element to the event, a Kahoot Quiz will allow participants to test their knowledge of tourism in Japan. Winners will have the opportunity to receive prizes worth up to LAK 6 million, along with many other exciting prizes.

The event will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday at Toyota SQUARE, Parkson Shopping Centre, Vientiane. Admission is free of charge, and everyone interested in discovering more about Japan is invited to attend.

Vientiane: A series of cultural, sports, and tourism activities took place at the Long Sap international border gate area in the northwestern province of Son La from August 31 to September 2, bringing together a large number of tourists and local residents along the Vietnam-Laos border.

According to Lao News Agency, the activities were part of the 2026 Moc Chau Culture and Tourism Week, organized by the Son La provincial People’s Committee, which contributed to strengthening friendship and solidarity among border communities. Long Sap is a border commune with 14 villages and six ethnic groups living together, sharing more than 30km of border with Laos and hosting the Long Sap international border gate.

The program featured a highland border market, a cultural, tourism, and ethnic cuisine camp, as well as folk competitions and games, including tug-of-war, stick pushing, tu lu spinning, and making banh day (glutinous rice cakes) of the Mong ethnic group. Cultural performances praising the Party, President Ho Chi Minh, the homeland, and love also added to the festive atmosphere.

The highland border market attracted attention with more than 200 stalls operated by businesses from Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Traders and producers showcased and sold brocade clothing, household goods, farming tools, seedlings, specialty agricultural products, and local cuisine.

Ha Van Suong, a resident of Chieng Khua village in Long Sap commune, expressed that local residents were delighted to join the festivities and meet festival-goers from Laos and visitors from surrounding areas through cultural exchanges and culinary gatherings. These activities helped strengthen friendship and solidarity while creating opportunities for people on both sides to trade, exchange goods, and work together for economic, cultural, and social development.

On the occasion, cultural activities, performances, and a trade fair around the border gate were held in Laos, drawing tens of thousands of visitors and border residents from both countries. The events boosted cross-border trade and created opportunities for people and businesses to promote and sell agricultural products and other goods.

For Hang Thi Dinh, a resident in Long Sap commune, the festivities offered not only a chance to meet friends and shop but also an opportunity to learn more about the customs and traditions of communities across the border in Laos.

Through the program, Son La aims to showcase the nature, culture, and people of Long Sap, promote traditional cultural values alongside sustainable tourism, boost tourism and trade, and foster stronger cooperation contributing to sustainable socio-economic development in Long Sap and the Moc Chau National Tourism Area.

The activities also encourage border communities to strengthen solidarity, boost production, and socio-economic development while safeguarding national sovereignty and border security, further deepening the close friendship between the people of Vietnam and Laos.

Vientiane: Pasaxon, the official newspaper of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, has hailed the success of the 16th National Assembly’s first extraordinary session, saying that it offers important lessons to Laos.

According to Lao News Agency, the recently-published editorial highlighted the session, held from August 3-24 in Hanoi, which focused on clearing institutional bottlenecks and building a legal framework for socio-economic development, as well as national defence and security. The session was noted for its strategic significance, reflecting innovation in legislative and supreme oversight work and underscoring the National Assembly’s proactive role in working alongside the Government. It laid a solid institutional foundation for achieving socio-economic development goals in the new period.

The session demonstrated proactivity and flexibility, as lawmakers managed to handle 33 major items over 17 consecutive working days, including weekends, addressing urgent institutional blockages immediately rather than waiting for the regular sitting. Amendments to key laws, such as the Investment Law and the Petroleum Law, along with broader authority for local authorities, unlocked resources and reduced compliance costs for companies, marking significant progress in institutional reform and deeper decentralisation, as detailed in the editorial.

The session also showcased a long-term development vision by adopting resolutions to establish two centrally-run cities, Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh, and approving major transport projects like Ring Road No. 5 and the Lao Cai-Hai Phong railway. These projects are expected to create new momentum for economic regions and accelerate urbanisation. Additionally, the legislature moved swiftly to introduce special mechanisms for Phu Quoc to support preparations for the APEC 2027 Economic Leaders’ Week, signaling readiness to host major international events.

However, the editorial also flagged challenges, noting that passing many laws and resolutions at once requires the Government, ministries, and agencies to issue guiding decrees and circulars promptly to ensure policies take effect quickly and avoid ‘laws awaiting decrees’. It also warned of the risks associated with decentralisation, as more powers are transferred to local authorities. The expansion of post-inspection mechanisms necessitates strengthened monitoring, inspection, and oversight to prevent violations and the wasteful use of resources.

In conclusion, the editorial emphasized that Laos could draw several important lessons from the session and apply them to modernising its legislative bodies and driving infrastructure and socio-economic development.

Vientiane: The Lao PDR has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ASEAN labour cooperation to promote decent employment, protect workers’ rights, and expand opportunities for people to develop skills and secure better livelihoods. The Lao delegation, led by Mr. Phongsaysak Inthalath, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, attended the 29th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM), the 22nd ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM), and related meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.

According to Lao News Agency, the meetings were hosted by the Ministry of Labour of Thailand under the theme, ‘Advancing ASEAN Human Capital Towards International Recognition of Skills Certification,’ bringing together representatives from ASEAN Member States, development partners, and dialogue partners. Mr. Phongsaysak reaffirmed the Lao PDR’s commitment to strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation with ASEAN Member States, development partners, and dialogue partners. He also expressed support for the ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Work Plan and the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Work Plan for 2026-2030.

The regional cooperation focuses on areas that directly affect workers and their families, including safe and orderly labour migration, stronger labour standards, effective labour inspection, occupational safety and health, social protection, and the development of green and digital skills. Recognition of skills across ASEAN is expected to help workers gain qualifications that are more widely understood and valued, improving their access to employment opportunities and supporting mobility in a rapidly changing labour market.

The Lao delegation also endorsed the Joint Declaration of the 29th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting and the Joint Declaration of the 14th ASEAN Labour Ministers Plus Three Meeting involving China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. The documents set out common priorities for strengthening labour cooperation and promoting decent and fair work across the region.

The outcomes of the meetings will be submitted to the 49th ASEAN Summit, scheduled for November 2026 in the Philippines. Thailand holds the ASEAN chairmanship for 2026-2028, while Timor-Leste is scheduled to host the 30th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting in 2028.

Vientiane: President of the Lao PDR Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan, on September 2, 2026, for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral friendship and expanding practical cooperation between Laos and Kazakhstan for the mutual benefit of the two peoples.

According to Lao News Agency, the Lao President was accompanied by a high-level delegation and will pay an official visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan from September 3-4 at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Upon arrival, Mr. Thongloun was warmly welcomed by Mr. Zhaslan Madiyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Development and Artificial Intelligence of Kazakhstan, together with senior officials and representatives from both sides.

The visit provides an opportunity for the two countries to build on their existing friendship and identify new areas of cooperation that can contribute to economic growth, create opportunities for businesses and people, and strengthen exchanges between the two countries. Discussions during the visit are expected to focus on expanding practical cooperation and strengthening ties in areas of mutual interest, helping to create greater opportunities for trade, investment, tourism, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

The visit also reflects the Lao PDR’s efforts to broaden international cooperation and develop partnerships that can contribute to sustainable national development and improve the livelihoods of its people. The official visit is expected to further deepen Laos-Kazakhstan relations and lay a stronger foundation for long-term cooperation in the years ahead.

Vientiane: President of the Lao PDR Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith and President of the Republic of Belarus Mr. Alexander Lukashenko have agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, with a focus on turning existing agreements into practical projects that can contribute to economic opportunities and improved well-being for people in both countries.

According to Lao News Agency, the two leaders held bilateral talks on September 1 in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus (SCO Plus) Summit. Mr. Thongloun expressed his pleasure at meeting President Lukashenko again, following their previous meeting in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024. He said the meeting provided an opportunity to further strengthen the traditional friendship and expand mutually beneficial cooperation between Laos and Belarus.

The Lao President expressed appreciation to the President and Government of Belarus for supporting the Lao PDR’s participation as a Dialogue Partner of the SCO. He affirmed that Laos will continue contributing to the organisation in accordance with its capacity and actual conditions.

Both leaders spoke highly of the positive development of bilateral relations, particularly in the political and security sectors, and agreed to maintain regular exchanges of high-level and other delegations. They also reviewed existing cooperation and discussed ways to accelerate agreed projects in areas including economy, trade, investment, banking and finance, education, culture, tourism and public health.

The two sides agreed to make greater use of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms to advance practical projects. Stronger cooperation in these areas could create new opportunities for trade and investment, expand educational and cultural exchanges, promote tourism and improve access to knowledge, services and expertise for the benefit of people in both countries.

President Lukashenko congratulated Mr. Thongloun on his re-election as President of the Lao PDR and invited him to pay an official visit to Belarus at a mutually convenient time. He also reaffirmed Belarus’ commitment to deepening the long-standing friendship and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with the Lao PDR.