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...

Vietnam’s Top Security Official to Lam Confirmed as President

BANGKOK (AP) — Vietnam’s top security official To Lam was confirmed Wednesday as the nation’s new president. Lam was confirmed by Vietnam’s National Assembly after...

US Ambassador Heather Variava Outlines Vision for Strengthening Relations with Laos

Heather Variava, the United States (US) Ambassador to Laos, who assumed her position in February this year, spoke with Lao media officials on 14...

Thai Prime Minister Promises Investigation After Activist Died in Detention

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s prime minister on Wednesday, 15 May, offered his condolences to the family of a young activist who died in detention...

Thai Activist, Hunger-striker Dies in Custody

Thai democracy activist Nethiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom (28) passed away on 14 May to cardiac arrest at Thammasat University Hospital in Pathum Thani, shortly after...

Forging Forward: ASEAN, EU Launch Blue Book 2024-2025

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) launched the ASEAN-EU Blue Book 2024-2025 at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta...

Vietnam Celebrates 70 Years Since Dien Bien Phu Battle That Ended French Colonial Rule

DIEN BIEN PHU, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam on 7 May celebrated the 70th anniversary of the battle of Dien Bien Phu in which the French...