Laos has joined a pan-Asian forum that brings governments together to discuss regional security and economic cooperation, becoming its 29th member after about nine years as an observer.
The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) approved Laos’ membership at its seventh summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 15 October. A day earlier, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane signed the forum’s founding documents.
Full membership gives Laos a role in CICA’s decisions, while observers cannot take part in decision-making.
What Membership Means for Laos
CICA, based in Astana, Kazakhstan, aims to build trust between governments and encourage cooperation across Asia. Its work covers trade, transport, energy, agriculture, environmental protection, cultural exchange, and security issues such as cybercrime and terrorism.
These areas offer potential opportunities for Laos, particularly in transport and trade.
Membership also gives Lao officials access to CICA meetings, workshops, and exchanges with governments across Asia. But it does not guarantee investment, funding, or preferential trade terms. Laos will need to pursue specific initiatives to turn membership into practical benefits.
The forum has also been seeking closer ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam are already members of CICA, making Laos the fourth ASEAN member to join.
Laos and Azerbaijan
Laos’ admission came during President Thongloun Sisoulith’s visit to Azerbaijan, where he met President Ilham Aliyev on 13 October.
Thongloun described the trip as the first visit by a Lao head of state since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1995.
The two presidents adopted a joint statement and witnessed the exchange of a memorandum of understanding on agriculture and an agreement allowing visa-free travel for holders of official passports.
Aliyev acknowledged that trade between the two countries remains limited but said there was potential to expand economic ties. He also said Azerbaijan was ready to consider practical investment projects in Laos.
Thongloun said the agreements would provide a basis for future cooperation and expressed confidence that investment from Azerbaijan would increase.
Neither side announced specific investment amounts or projects.
Laos has not announced which CICA programs it plans to prioritize. For now, membership gives the country a formal role in a regional forum where it previously participated only as an observer.
