Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith has congratulated Myanmar’s newly elected president Min Aung Hlaing, pledging to strengthen ties between the two countries.
In his message, Thongloun expressed confidence that the long-standing friendship between Vientiane and Naypyidaw will deepen. He said he stands ready to work closely with Min Aung Hlaing to deliver tangible benefits and support regional peace and stability.
Min Aung Hlaing, 69, secured a parliamentary vote on 3 April and took office on 10 April. His rise to the presidency comes five years after he removed Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in a military coup that triggered civil conflict in Myanmar and international sanctions.
Western governments and democracy groups rejected the election, calling it neither free nor fair. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations echoed these concerns and declined to send election observers after rights groups warned it would legitimize a flawed process.
Bilateral Ties Continue to Strengthen
Thongloun’s message comes as Laos and Myanmar expand cooperation. In February, both countries signed a five-year memorandum of understanding in Naypyidaw to strengthen cooperation and people-to-people ties for the 2026–2030 period.
Officials from both sides attended the signing, including representatives from the Lao National Assembly and Myanmar’s diplomatic institutions.
On the sidelines of the visit, the Lao delegation also met with Myanmar’s Foreign Affairs Minister U Than Swe, who stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation in advancing people-to-people diplomacy.
The two countries share a short but historically significant border in the north, and have maintained friendly ties through successive changes in government on both sides.


