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...

State Inspection Authority: USD 732 Million Lost to Corruption Since 2016  

Since 2016, the Lao government has lost funds in various currencies totaling USD 732 million to corruption, according to a recent report. The State Inspection...

Cambodia Clarifies Claim Over Khaen Music

Hot on the heels of the mango sticky rice debate comes a clarification of the Khaen, with Cambodia staking its own claim to the...

US President Biden to Host ASEAN Leaders at Summit in May

US President Joe Biden will host leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Washington next month for a summit. The event, to...

Thai Police Investigate Bomb Thrown at PM Prayut’s House

Thai police are investigating an incident on Sunday night during which a home-made explosive device was thrown into the residential compound of Prime Minister...

Laos Urges End to US Embargo on Cuba

President of the National Assembly of Laos, Mr. Xaysomphone Phomvihane, affirmed on Friday that Laos, its Party and government, urge that the United States...

Civil Servant Numbers Culled

The government of Laos has authorized a quota of only 1,300 new civil servants this year. The Ministry of Home Affairs was directed by the...