Laos, Germany pledge to deepen cooperation, boost diplomatic engagement

The governments of Laos and Germany have pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation and maintain close diplomatic engagement, following high-level consultations in Berlin that also addressed development cooperation and Laos’ upcoming graduation from Least Developed Country status.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the discussions took place during the 2nd Lao-German Bilateral Consultation Meeting, jointly hosted by the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Germany’s Federal Foreign Office in Berlin on June 23, under the framework of the Joint Statement on Cooperation signed by the two ministries in 2019.
The Lao delegation was led by the Director General of the Department of Europe and America, Mr Ekkaphab Phanthavong, while the German side was headed by Ambassador Joachim Bertele, who is responsible for Southeast Asia and the Pacific at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The two sides reviewed progress in bilateral relations and noted continued cooperation across a wide range of sectors under bilateral and multilateral frameworks.
They agreed to further strengthen cooperation between the two foreign ministries through the bilateral consultation mechanism and to continue to promote collaboration in trade, investment and tourism.
The Lao side expressed appreciation to the government and people of Germany for their longstanding development assistance, which has contributed to socio-economic development efforts in Laos and improvements in people’s livelihoods.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Germany has provided support through bilateral and multilateral cooperation programmes, including technical assistance through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and financial cooperation through the German Development Bank (KfW).
Areas of cooperation include agriculture and environmental protection, vocational education, infrastructure, sanitation, finance, skilled labour development, and good governance and the rule of law.
Germany has also supported development initiatives through cooperation frameworks involving the European Union, Team Europe, ASEAN-Germany, the Mekong River Commission, the Lao-German Friendship Association, and other international bodies.
The two sides also shared updates on their respective socio-economic development priorities and discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The Lao officials briefed their German counterparts on preparations for Laos’ graduation from Least Developed Country status at the end of 2026 and requested Germany’s continued support during the transition period, especially with regard to trade preferences and other relevant policy measures, to help ensure a smooth, sustainable and quality graduation process.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening friendly relations and expanding cooperation for the mutual benefit of the peoples of Laos and Germany, while continuing to support one another in regional and international forums.

By Phon Thikeo
 (Latest Update June 29, 2026)