Politics

Laos, Vietnam Set USD 4 Billion Trade Goal as Economic Ties Grow

Laos and Vietnam are pushing to take their economic partnership to the next level, with both countries targeting USD 4 billion in bilateral trade in 2026. The goal follows a strong year for trade, with two-way trade reaching USD 3.196 billion in 2025, up 12 percent from the previous year. The...

Trade, Energy, Tourism Drive Laos-Vietnam Economic Ties Past USD 1.3 Billion

Trade between Laos and Vietnam reached USD 1.305 billion during the first six months...

Laos Formalizes Shanghai Cooperation Organization Dialogue Partner Status

Laos has strengthened its regional ties after formally confirming its status as a Dialogue...

Railway Expansion, Education Reform Among Key Issues at National Assembly

Expanding the railway to southern Laos, rolling out a new school system, reducing poverty,...

Myanmar’s Leader Wraps First ASEAN Visit in Laos, Signs Mekong Dam Study

Myanmar's recently elected President, Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in the 2021 military...

Chinese President Xi Calls for Ukraine Peace Talks

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping called Thursday for peace talks over Ukraine after French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to him to “bring...

Fighting in Myanmar Sends Thousands Fleeing to Thailand

BANGKOK (AP) — More than 5,000 people have fled from eastern Myanmar into Thailand in recent days as fighting between Myanmar’s army and armed...

Thai Police Say Chinese Church Members to Be Deported Soon

BANGKOK (AP) — More than 60 self-exiled members of a Chinese Christian church who were detained in Thailand after receiving U.N. refugee status will...

MRC International Conference Attracts Hundreds Eager for Action

On the heels of the historic UN Water Conference in New York, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) wrapped up its International Conference on Monday...

MRC Secretariat Chief Cites Progress Amid Troubling Trends in Annual Address

On Monday, in his second State of the Mekong Address, the top executive of the Mekong River Commission described how – despite meaningful progress...

Malaysia Parliament Votes to Scrap Mandatory Death Sentences

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s Parliament on Monday approved a bill that would scrap mandatory death penalties and limit capital punishment to serious...