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...

Laos, Vietnam Plan Joint University, Expand Student Exchange

Laos and Vietnam have agreed to establish a Lao-Vietnam University in Laos and expand a program sending students from border areas to study in...

Laos Rejects Claims of Oil Re-exports to Cambodia, Assures Compliance with Law

Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith has confirmed that all oil imported from Thailand is strictly reserved for domestic use within Laos,...

Japan Celebrates First-Ever Exhibition in Vientiane

Japan is wrapping its first-ever exhibition in Vientiane to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos. The exhibition runs from 13...

Salavanh Police Reject Bribery Claim Amid Online Backlash

A bribery allegation involving Salavanh provincial police has triggered widespread discussion on social media, despite authorities denying the claim and describing it as misinformation. The...

Laos, South Korea Leaders Move to Deepen Cooperation on Crime, Economy, Security

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Seoul on 15 December to discuss closer cooperation on transnational crime,...

A New Deal for the Mekong

By Anoulak Kittikhoun - Imagine the Mighty Mekong Basin not as a source of friction among riparian countries but as a platform of joint...