Russia and Laos: 65 years of time-tested friendship

On 7 October 2025, Russia and Laos celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Over the past decades, much has changed in our countries and in the world at large. What has remained immutable are the unifying traditions of friendship, mutual assistance, and combat brotherhood, rooted in the years of the national liberation struggle of the Lao people against French colonialists and American aggressors.
For our States, this year is marked by the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and in World War II. A distinguished delegation from the Lao PDR, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavan Phomvihane, attended the celebrations in Moscow held on 9 May. A Lao military contingent marched in formation across Red Square.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

For Laos, 2025 is also marked by important national anniversaries – the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (22 March 1955) and the 50th anniversary of the declaration of the Lao PDR (2 December 1975).
We highly value our Lao friends’ careful attention to the pages of our common past, preservation of historical truth, and cutting short any attempts to distort it. We know that Laos keeps alive the memory of the assistance our country provided in the formation of its statehood.
The USSR took active part in the 1954 Geneva Conference, which put an end to French colonial rule in Indochina, and acted as a guarantor of Laos’s neutrality. During the “undeclared war,” extensive material support from the Soviet Union was an important factor in the victory of the Lao patriotic forces. The feat of the Soviet internationalist pilots is immortalised in monuments erected in 2022 – in the capital, Vientiane, and the city of Paek (Xiengkhuang province).
After the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, our country contributed to ensuring its defence capability and development of its national economy. With the assistance of Soviet experts, large industrial enterprises, important transport infrastructure facilities, medical institutions, and educational establishments were opened in Laos. Many of them – such as the Mittaphab Russian-Lao Friendship Hospital – continue to benefit the citizens of the Lao PDR to this day.
 Today, Russian-Lao cooperation is dynamically advancing in accordance with the spirit and letter of the Treaty on the Principles of Friendly Relations between Russia and the Lao PDR of 9 March 1994, and the Declaration on bilateral Strategic Partnership in the Asia-Pacific Region of 13 October 2011.
The priorities for joint work are determined by the leaders of our countries during their intensive and trust-based dialogue. On 31 July 2025, talks were held between President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of the Lao PDR, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Thongloun Sisoulith during his official visit to Russia. In 2024, two meetings of the Heads of State took place – on 9 May in Moscow and on 24 October on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan.
It is gratifying that the Lao side regularly participates in the discussions of the Eastern Economic Forums. At the EEF‑2025, Vladimir Putin had a conversation with Prime Minister of the Lao PDR Sonexay Siphandone, and at the EEF‑2023 – with Vice President of the Lao PDR Pany Yathotou. This year, a Russian-Lao business forum was organised for the first time at the Vladivostok venue.
Ties are strengthening along the lines of governments, parliaments, leading political parties, and public organisations. Interaction in the fields of defence and security, as well as law enforcement, is expanding. A substantive exchange of views is conducted between the foreign policy agencies. In June 2025, we hosted the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, Thongsavan Phomvihane, in Moscow. Ministerial meetings are held regularly on the sidelines of ASEAN events.
Our countries’ approaches to a wide range of international issues coincide or are very close. We advocate for the unconditional observance of the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety, fullness, and interconnectedness. We are firmly committed to the formation of a just multipolar world order that reflects cultural and civilisational diversity and the right of peoples to determine their own destiny. We are categorical opponents of neo-colonial practices, unilateral coercive measures, threats of the use of force, and interference in the internal affairs of sovereign States.
We welcome Laos’s independent foreign policy course, including its balanced position in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. It is obvious that a sustainable settlement of the conflict is possible only by eliminating its root causes. It is necessary to reliably guarantee Russia’s security, neutralise the threats emanating from the aggressive expansion of NATO, and stop attempts to draw Ukraine into this militaristic alliance. It is no less important to ensure that the rights of Russian and Russian-speaking people in the territories controlled by the Kiev regime are respected.
I would like to make special mention of the constructive line of our Lao friends aimed at strengthening the ASEAN-centred architecture of regional security and cooperation, and their consistent efforts to advance Russia’s dialogue partnership with the Association. This was fully demonstrated by Vientiane’s successful chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024.
We appreciate the desire of our Lao partners to establish contacts with the leading associations of the World Majority, including BRICS and the SCO, to “build bridges” with the EAEU, and to participate in the processes of creating the Greater Eurasian Partnership and the Eurasian security architecture. This year, at the SCO summit in Tianjin on 31 August – 1 September, by a unanimous decision of the Council of Heads of Member States of the organisation, Laos was granted partner status, which will allow Vientiane to become more closely involved in the diverse and productive cooperation in this format.
We attach great importance to the development of Russian-Lao practical cooperation, the volume of which continues to grow. At the same time, it must be acknowledged that the absolute figures are still quite modest and do not correspond to the existing potential. The primary tasks in this area are the creation of new effective transport and logistics routes, the implementation of large joint investment projects, primarily in the fields of energy, exploration and mining, as well as support for the activities of small and medium-sized businesses. A significant role in these matters belongs to the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.
We see good prospects in the project to construct a small modular reactor nuclear power plant in the Lao PDR with the participation of the Rosatom State Corporation. Russian companies such as UC Rusal, RusHydro PJSC, and GAZ Group are also interested in working with Laos. The Fesco transport group organises container shipping between Russia and Laos through Vietnamese ports. Ways to establish rail passenger and freight services between Vladivostok and Vientiane through the territory of China are being considered. On the agenda are initiatives in the fields of information and communication technologies and space exploration.
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of qualified personnel for the successful socio-economic development of any country. Proceeding from this, we are ready to continue assisting in the professional training of specialists from Laos. Within the quota of the Government of the Russian Federation, 100 scholarships are allocated annually for Lao students to enrol in Russian universities. In this respect, Laos ranks third among ASEAN countries. Work has begun on the creation of the first Russian-Lao school in Vientiane with a full cycle of education under a joint educational program.
It is gratifying that the multifaceted art of Russia enjoys wide popularity in Laos. In 2023 and 2024, residents and guests of Vientiane warmly welcomed Russian film festivals and concerts by music and dance groups. In turn, Russia has a sincere affection for the unique and rich Lao culture. The useful activities of the Russia-Laos Friendship Society contribute to the growth of mutual interest in cultural and humanitarian exchanges.
Another dimension of our bilateral relations is the interaction of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation with the cities and provinces of Laos. Last year, the Days of Moscow in Vientiane and the Days of Vientiane in Moscow were successfully held. Twinning agreements are being implemented between St. Petersburg and Vientiane, and between Tobolsk and Luang Prabang.
A dialogue is also being built along the lines of religious organisations. We are grateful to the Vientiane authorities for permission to open the first parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in the country. Delegations from the Lao PDR traditionally make a significant contribution to the work of international Buddhist forums held in our country.
It is symbolic that in this important anniversary year, the leadership of the Lao PDR decided to present the Russian Federation with a gift of two elephants. This animal is especially revered in Lao culture, personifying peace, prosperity, and wisdom. We view such a generous gesture as a visible testament to the strong friendship between our peoples.
In the current environment, Russia and Laos face new challenges and opportunities. The strengthening strategic partnership between our countries allows us to look to the future with hope and optimism. The 65‑year experience of cooperation shows that we are capable of solving the most complex tasks for the benefit of our States and peoples, in the interests of ensuring universal peace and prosperity.

(Latest Update November 20, 2025)