Laos and China have opened a joint military support and training center at Ban Keun Airport in Vientiane Province on 29 September.
The center will support training for Lao Air Force pilots and operate alongside the China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy, according to Lao people’s Army News.
The two countries will jointly operate and maintain the facilities. Beijing has not disclosed what personnel, aircraft, or other equipment will be based at the site.
China’s defense ministry said the center was established through consultations between the two countries and the facility is intended to deepen military cooperation and contribute to regional peace and stability.
The opening comes as China expands its military cooperation with countries across Southeast Asia. China and Cambodia opened a joint training and support center at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base in 2025.
Vientiane’s Expanding Military Partnerships
For Laos, the new aviation center adds another layer to its long-standing military ties with China, while the Lao military also maintains defense cooperation with other countries.
In June, Laos and Russia held the LAROS-2026 joint exercises at the Kommadam training ground, focusing on military training and cooperation.
The new center comes shortly after China and Laos held the Peace Train-2026 humanitarian medical exercise in Vientiane, which included medical training and services by the two militaries.
The full scope of the new aviation center remains unclear. China has not publicly detailed the number of personnel or aircraft that could operate from Ban Keun.
To address potential regional concerns, China’s Ministry of National Defense stated that the facility does not host independent Chinese troops and not directed against any third party.
