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 Begins Comprehensive Review of 2015 Constitution for Major Amendments

The National Committee for the Amendment of the Constitution commenced the review process of the 2015 Constitution on 20 June to make necessary revisions...

Crackdown on Corruption: Lao Officials Push for Severe Penalties

The government has lost significant sums of money to corruption, with the State Inspection Authority identifying development and investment projects, especially roads and bridges,...

Thailand’s Senate Overwhelmingly Approves Landmark Bill to Legalize Marriage Equality

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s Senate voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday, 18 June, to approve a marriage equality bill, clearing the last legislative hurdle for the...

Thaksin Indicted on Charge of Royal Defamation as More Court Cases Stir Thailand’s Political Woes

BANGKOK (AP) — Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was formally indicted Tuesday on a charge of defaming Thailand’s monarchy in one of several court cases that...

France, European Union Inject Major Funding into Heritage, Agriculture,Tax Systems in Laos

The Ministry of Planning and Investment hosted the official launch of additional funding totaling EUR 13.6 million (USD 14.5 million) for three significant projects...

Hungary Reopens Embassy in Laos After Three Decades

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Laos’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saleumxay Kommasith, inaugurated the reopening of Hungary's embassy in...