President Thongloun Sisoulith addresses the SCO Plus Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. -- Photo Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Lao President identifies key areas for SCO cooperation

President Thongloun Sisoulith has proposed four key areas for Laos to deepen cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), focusing on agriculture and food security, digital transformation, logistics and connectivity, and banking and financial cooperation.
He made the proposal while addressing the SCO Plus Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on September 1, where Laos participated for the first time as an official SCO Dialogue Partner.
The four areas are closely interconnected and mutually reinforcing, with strong potential to generate tangible and substantive cooperation and contribute to sustainable development, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.
The Lao leader also stressed that closer cooperation in these areas would strengthen economic and regional links while creating favourable conditions for sustainable growth.
President Thongloun expressed sincere gratitude to SCO member states for their confidence in Laos and for admitting the country as a Dialogue Partner.
He said the new status is not only a source of pride for Laos but also carries important duties and responsibilities.
President Thongloun reaffirmed Laos’ readiness to contribute constructively to SCO activities by translating the “Shanghai Spirit” into practical action and promoting the principles of multilateral cooperation.
He said the Lao government would support efforts to strengthen links between ASEAN and the Eurasian region at all levels.
Turning to the wider international situation, President Thongloun stressed the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation among peace-loving developing countries in responding to global challenges.
The current international situation underscores the need for countries to work together to create conditions conducive to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, he said.
President Thongloun also reaffirmed the Lao government’s unwavering support for the important role of the United Nations and the fundamental principles enshrined in the UN Charter.
He emphasised the need for a fair and balanced international order based on sovereign equality, mutual respect, non-interference, the peaceful settlement of disputes and mutually beneficial cooperation.
The UN remains an essential and indispensable component in ensuring lasting international peace, while the SCO can serve as an important regional cooperation mechanism for further strengthening the central role of the UN, he said.
The SCO Plus Summit was held on August 31 and September 1 under the theme “The United Nations as a Key Element of a Fair World Order: the Contribution of the SCO Plus States to the Formation of a Multipolar World”.
The summit brought together heads of state and government and representatives of SCO member states, observer states and dialogue partners.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Thongloun held meetings with President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus, and SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev to discuss future bilateral cooperation and collaboration between Laos and the SCO.
During his meeting with Secretary-General Yermekbayev on Monday, President Thongloun expressed appreciation for his efforts to strengthen substantive cooperation within the SCO, saying these efforts contributed to peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and beyond.
Laos began a feasibility study on becoming an SCO Dialogue Partner in 2023 and formally expressed its intention to obtain the status in 2024.
In August 2025, the SCO Summit adopted a resolution admitting Laos as a Dialogue Partner.
On July 10, 2026, Laos officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Beijing, China, granting it Dialogue Partner status with the SCO.
The document was signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavan Phomvihane, representing the Lao government, and the SCO Secretary-General.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was established in 2001 and is headquartered in Beijing. It has 10 member states: China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus.
The SCO also has 17 partner countries, comprising two observer states – Afghanistan and Mongolia – and 15 Dialogue Partners, including Laos.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update September 2, 2026)