Vientiane: On September 14, 2026, Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR and President of the 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), hosted high-level foreign delegation heads at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane.
According to Lao News Agency, the diplomatic meetings fostered an amicable and constructive environment, focusing on multilateral cooperation, humanitarian action, and advancing the core objectives of the CCM.
During the meeting with Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Van, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, both sides praised Laos’s conference presidency and underscored the socio-economic impacts of unexploded ordnance (UXO). They agreed to coordinate closely on upcoming high-level reciprocal visits and preparations for the Lao-Vietnam and Vietnam-Laos Year of Solidarity and Friendship in 2027.
Welcoming Mr. Saran Jarusvatanakul, Advisor to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Laos expressed profound g
ratitude for Thailand’s active participation and commitment to humanitarian UXO cooperation. Both sides also coordinated preparations for the 23rd Thailand-Laos Joint Commission Meeting slated for early October 2026.
In talks with Mr. Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, leaders discussed deeper regional cooperation within ASEAN and reviewed progress toward establishing the Lao Embassy in Dili, alongside Timor-Leste’s historic move to accede to the Convention.
Meeting with Mr. Jurg Lauber, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, discussions centered on International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The ICRC acknowledged Laos joining the Global Initiative for formal commitments to IHL in July 2026 and extended an invitation to a high-level humanitarian conference in Jordan this December.
Deputy Prime Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane lauded these engagements as a vital milestone for fostering solidarity and mutual understanding. He expressed de
ep appreciation for the robust international support surrounding Laos’ presidency, noting that the strong global turnout reflects a unified, unwavering commitment to safeguarding peace, stability, and human progress.