Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith met with Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev in Bishkek on 31 August, following Laos’ formal admission as an SCO Dialogue Partner.
The meeting took place during the SCO summit, held in the capital of Kyrgyzstan from 31 August to 1 September under the theme “Enhancing the Role of the United Nations as a Key Element of a Fair World Order: the Contribution of the SCO Plus States to the Formation of a Multipolar World.”
Discussions covered economic and trade cooperation, transport and digital connectivity, personnel training and tourism.
The two sides also discussed security cooperation, including efforts to combat cybercrime, transnational organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism.
The SCO is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising 10 member states: Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
As a Dialogue Partner, Laos now has a formal channel for cooperation with the SCO and its members in areas including security and stability, the economy, trade, infrastructure, transport, logistics, tourism, culture, innovation and regional connectivity.
Although Laos is not a full SCO member, its Dialogue Partner status allows it to participate in selected SCO activities and programs. This could support national development priorities, particularly in areas such as digital transformation, connectivity and skills development.
The new status may also support Laos’ efforts to develop its role as a regional logistics hub. Its location gives it potential to serve as a link between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, while creating opportunities to expand trade, investment and logistics connections with countries in Central Asia, South Asia and Eurasia.
The arrangement also enables closer coordination with the SCO while Laos remains a member of ASEAN.
Following the summit, and at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President Thongloun will lead a high-level Lao delegation on an official visit to Kazakhstan from 3 to 4 September.
