Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone holds talks with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim (right), during a meeting on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines.

Laos seeks greater Malaysian investment as two PMs hold talks

Laos called for increased Malaysian investment and broader cooperation during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of a regional summit held in Cebu, the Philippines.
This hope was expressed when Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone met the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, on Thursday, during the 48th ASEAN Summit and related meetings held on May 7-8.
The Prime Minister called on Malaysia to encourage more Malaysian businesses to invest in Laos, particularly in sectors that support economic growth.
During their talks, the two prime ministers agreed to expand cooperation across a wide range of areas, including politics, trade, investment, energy, finance and banking, culture, education, human resource development, tourism, and social development.
Prime Minister Sonexay thanked the Malaysian government for its continued support to Laos over the years.
The two leaders expressed appreciation for the long-standing friendship and strong cooperation between Laos and Malaysia over the past 60 years. They highlighted regular exchanges of high-level visits and mutual support in regional and international forums, especially within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
They reaffirmed their commitment to working closely together to further strengthen and deepen relations for the benefit of both nations.
The leaders also noted that 2026 sees the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Malaysia and agreed to organise joint activities to mark the occasion.
Prime Minister Sonexay invited Prime Minister Anwar to pay an official visit to Laos at a convenient time this year to celebrate the anniversary and advance cooperation.
Prime Minister Anwar welcomed the invitation and reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to continue supporting Laos and further strengthen bilateral ties.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update May 9, 2026)