Government

Laos, Kazakhstan Seek New Railway Links to Expand Trade

Laos and Kazakhstan are exploring new railway and logistics links that could open a trade route between Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Europe. Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith is visiting Kazakhstan from 3 to 4 September for the first presidential-level talks between the two countries since they established diplomatic relations in...

Luang Namtha Calls for Public Donations as Flooding Devastates Province

On 31 August, Luang Namtha Province called on domestic and foreign sectors to donate...

Thongloun Pushes Multilateralism at SCO Summit, Deepens India, Kyrgyzstan Ties

President Thongloun Sisoulith attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Plus Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan,...

Lao President Thongloun Meets SCO Chief in Bishkek After Laos Joins as Dialogue Partner

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith met with Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev in...

Laos Inflation Reaches 7.7% in August, Remains Above Target

Laos’ inflation rate reached 7.7 percent in August, a slight increase from 7.6 percent...

Prime Minister Calls for Tighter Oversight of Boten SEZ Amid Development Challenges

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has called for stronger management of the Boten Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Luang Namtha as Laos seeks to expand...

Laos Identifies Two New Rare Earth Target Areas Across Four Provinces

Laos has completed field surveys and identified two major potential rare earth target areas spanning four provinces, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC)...

Laos Authorities Arrest Four in Alleged Marriage Trafficking Network

On 23 July, Lao authorities arrested four people suspected of operating a human trafficking network that allegedly recruited Lao women for irregular marriages with...

Cambodia, Vietnam, Belarus, Others Mourn Death of Lao NA President Xaysomphone

Foreign leaders and diplomatic missions are paying tribute to Xaysomphone Phomvihane, President of the Lao National Assembly (NA) who died on 8 August at...

Laos Considers VAT Exemption to Subsidize Electricity for Low-Income Households

Laos’ National Assembly (NA) is considering a proposal to exempt subsidized residential electricity from Value-Added Tax (VAT) as the government looks for ways to...

Laos National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane Dies at 69

Xaysomphone Phomvihane, President of Laos’ National Assembly and one of the country’s most senior political figures, has died aged 69, officials announced on 8...