Lao (left) and Russian delegations meet in Malaysia.

Laos, Russia agree to broaden multifaceted cooperation

Lao and Russian foreign ministers have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas, including trade, energy, education, defence, and culture, as part of efforts to strengthen their strategic partnership.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov reached the agreement during their bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from July 7-11.
The two top diplomats agreed to deepen collaboration across a wide range of strategic areas. These include trade and investment, energy, education, defence, legal affairs, tourism, and culture, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.
Both sides also reviewed the progress of cooperation in recewnt years.
In 2024, bilateral trade grew by 65 percent, reaching US$23.8 million. Cooperation has also expanded into diverse areas including defence, UXO clearance, hospital renovation, and cultural exchanges.
Both sides have maintained high-level contact. President Thongloun Sisoulith paid an official visit to Moscow in May, which has further reinforced the multidimensional partnership, highlighting both countries’ commitment to closer ties in politics, security, education, public health, and regional cooperation.
The ministers also agreed to broaden military cooperation and increase educational exchanges, including scholarships and academic partnerships, reflecting growing interest in people-to-people exchanges and long-term capacity building.
Underscoring their close diplomatic ties, the ministers reaffirmed mutual support in international forums and expressed shared views on regional and global developments. They also voiced appreciation for ASEAN–Russia cooperation and pledged to further promote engagement within multilateral frameworks.
The Laos–Russia relationship, which dates back to the Soviet era, will mark its 65th anniversary this October. The partnership is underpinned by the 1994 Treaty on Friendly Relations and the 2011 Declaration on Strategic Partnership in the Asia-Pacific Region.

By Phonepaseuth Volakhoun
 (Latest Update July 14, 2025)