Laos and Myanmar are moving to expand bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors following an official visit to Myanmar by Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane on 12 to 13 June.
Thongsavanh went to Naypyidaw at the invitation of Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe, where the two sides discussed plans to boost collaboration on trade, investment, labor, energy, transport, border management and education.
During the talks, both sides reviewed progress in bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest.
Defence and security cooperation remains active, with regular border meetings continuing to strengthen coordination along the shared frontier, a boundary of over 230 kilometers defined entirely by the Mekong River.
Thongsavanh also paid a courtesy call on Burmese President Min Aung Hlaing, conveying warm greetings from Lao President Thongloun and congratulating Myanmar on its recent general elections and Min Aung Hlaing’s inauguration in April 2026.
Thongsavanh extended an invitation for U Than Swe to pay an official visit to Laos, which Myanmar welcomed.
Regional Diplomacy in Focus
Thongsavanh’s visit came as several Southeast Asian foreign ministers made their way to Naypyidaw.
Just days earlier, the Indonesian foreign minister met with Min Aung Hlaing in the capital, following separate visits by the Malaysian foreign minister and an advisor to the Thai foreign minister.
