Vientiane: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a Walk for Health activity at Patuxay on October 11 to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Lao Diplomacy, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s diplomatic history from October 12, 1945, to October 12, 2025.
According to Lao News Agency, the event was attended by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, along with Deputy Prime Ministers, Vice Presidents of the National Assembly, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, ambassadors, and representatives of mass organizations residing in the Lao PDR. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other ministries, and various organizations also participated.
During the ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane emphasized the historical significance of Lao diplomacy and its connection to the national liberation revolution. He highlighted that the commemoration honors the heroic Lao people whose sacrifices for independence and peace allowed the nation to proclaim its sovereignty and establish its foreign policy on the international stage.
Minister Thongsavanh also noted the progress and achievements of the foreign affairs sector over the past eight decades in both bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Key accomplishments include expanding diplomatic relations, elevating strategic partnerships with numerous countries, and Laos’s active participation in the United Nations, ASEAN, and other regional frameworks.
He reaffirmed that the Lao PDR upholds a foreign policy of ‘Peace, Independence, Friendship, and Cooperation,’ guided by the principle of increasing friends and reducing enemies to foster peace, security, and development domestically and internationally.
Looking forward, the foreign affairs sector plans to strengthen political and economic diplomacy, focusing on enhancing cooperation in trade and investment. The strategy aims to leverage Laos’s geographic advantages to transform the nation into a connectivity center within the sub-region. Additionally, it will promote people-to-people diplomacy, mutual respect for independence and sovereignty, and tourism integration with the region and the world, contributing to stable economic growth, Laos’s graduation from Least Developed Country status, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
In addition to the Walk for Health, the celebration included a Q and A trivia session on the history of Lao diplomacy for the participants.