Press release on the upcoming visit to Russia by Foreign Minister of Lao People’s Democratic Republic Thongsavanh Phomvihane
On June 25−29, Foreign Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) Thongsavanh Phomvihane will travel to Moscow on an official visit. He is scheduled to hold talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Minister of Construction and Utilities, Chair of the Russian chapter of the Russia-Laos Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Irek Fayzullin.
Rooted in years-old traditions of friendship and cooperation, Russia-Laos ties enjoy a high level of trust. Our country has proactively supported the people of Laos in their national liberation struggle, as well as their efforts to establish and develop the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
October 7 will mark 65 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries. On March 9, 1994, Russia and Lao PDR signed the Treaty on the Principles of Friendly Relations. In October 2011, they adopted a Declaration for Strategic Partnership between Russia and Laos in the Asia-Pacific Region.
There has been positive momentum in the political dialogue between Russia and Laos, including at the highest level. The recent contacts included talks between President Vladimir Putin and President of the Lao PDR, Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party’s Central Committee, Thongloun Sisoulith, on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting in the outreach/BRICS+ format in Kazan on October 24, 2024. They also met on May 9, 2024, in Moscow, as well as during the Belt and Road International Forum in Beijing on October 17, 2023. Vladimir Putin had a conversation with Vice-President of the Lao PDR Pany Yathotou in September 2023 as part of the 8th Eastern Economic Forum.
In May 2025, Foreign Minister of the Lao PDR Thongsavanh Phomvihane headed the Lao delegation as a special envoy of the President of the Lao PDR at the commemorations of 80 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Mocow. Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Saleumxay Kommasith held talks with Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexey Overchuk on the sidelines of the 28th St Petersburg International Economic Forum, which took place on June 18−21, as well as during his visit to Moscow on April 20−24. In addition to this, there were meetings in Moscow with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Bakanov, and Rosatom Deputy Director General Nikolay Spassky.
The two countries have also stepped up their parliamentary ties. In September 2024, Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko had a meeting with Vice-President of the Lao PDR Pany Yathotou on the sidelines of the 4th Eurasian Women’s Forum (EWF). Deputy Speaker of the Lao PDR’s National Assembly Sommad Pholsena took part in the 11th Nevsky International Ecological Congress in St Petersburg on May 22 and 23. On May 20, co-chairs of the parliamentary friendship groups, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Nikolay Zhuravlyov and Deputy Speaker of the Lao PDR’s National Assembly Souvone Leuangbounmy held talks via videoconference.
United Russia party and Lao People’s Revolutionary Party have established close contacts based on the 2016 cooperation agreement and the Protocol to Expand and Step Up Cooperation Between the Two Parties in 2025−2027. It was signed on May 8 in Moscow. Laos has been proactively contributing to the For the Freedom of Nations movement, which aims to fight present-day neo-colonial practices.
Russia and Laos share close or converging views on key international matters, which serves as a solid foundation for their effective cooperation within the leading international and regional structures.
Vientiane has adopted a balanced position in the context of the Ukraine crisis and has demonstrated that it understood the causes which led to the special military operation. Laos has been supporting most of Russia’s initiatives at the UN General Assembly and has not joined the confrontational anti-Russian resolutions.
The two countries have been working together within ASEAN and other ASEAN-centric mechanisms in a constructive manner.
Laos has expressed its readiness to take part in the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a dialogue partner. In October 2024, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister of the Lao PDR Saleumxay Kommasith had a conversation with SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming on the sidelines of the 19th East Asia Summit in Vientiane. In his remarks at the BRICS meeting in the outreach/BRICS+ format in October 2024 in Kazan, President of the Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith said that his country was interested in joining BRICS in the future.
One of the priority areas of bilateral relations is the development of military and military-technical cooperation. Lao representatives consistently participate in international events organised by the Russian Ministry of Defence, including the Moscow Conference on International Security, the International Military-Technical Forum ARMY, and the International Army Games ArMI.
Since 2018, and annually between November and March, the International Mine Action Centre of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has conducted operations to clear unexploded ordnance in Laos, remnants of the Indochina War. During the seventh phase, from November 2024 to March 2025, over 18 hectares of land were cleared in Houaphanh Province, with more than 300 explosive devices neutralised and 28 Lao sappers trained. Cumulatively, Russian and Lao engineers have cleared over 200 hectares, locating and defusing 3,900 explosive items, while assisting in the training of 164 Lao specialists.
In September 2024, the fourth joint exercise Laros-2024 was successfully held in Russia.
Our two nations are intensifying collaboration in security and law enforcement. During the visit of Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Igor Krasnov to Laos on May 27–28, 2024, a Cooperation Programme between the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation and the Supreme People’s Prosecutor’s Office of the Lao PDR for 2025–2026 was signed. Lao delegations regularly attend high-level international security meetings organised by the Security Council of the Russian Federation. The 13th such meeting, held in Moscow between May 27 and 29, 2024, saw the participation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security of the Lao PDR Vilay Lakhamphong.
Bilateral trade and economic relations continue to grow steadily. In 2024, trade turnover between Russia and Laos increased by 65 percent to $23.8 million, with Russian exports rising by 78 percent ($18 million) and imports by 36 percent ($5.8 million). Key Russian exports to Laos include timber, pulp and paper products, machinery, equipment, vehicles, and chemical industry goods. Imports comprise textiles, foodstuffs, and agricultural raw materials.
The Russian-Lao Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation oversees practical coordination. Its 17th session took place in Vientiane in November 2023.
Interbank cooperation is progressing successfully. Several Lao banks now accept Russian Mir payment cards.
Significant attention is devoted to the cultural dimension of bilateral relations. The Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Vientiane facilitates academic exchanges, promotes the Russian language – taught at the Russia House, the National University of Laos, the Kaysone Phomvihane National Defence Academy, and six public secondary schools in Vientiane. Relevant agencies are exploring the establishment of a joint Russian-Lao school in the capital.
Education remains a vital area of cooperation. Over 8,000 civilian and 2,000 military specialists for Laos have been trained in Russia. Many graduates of Soviet and Russian universities hold senior positions in the Lao PDR’s party-state apparatus, the Lao People’s Army, and law enforcement agencies, playing prominent roles in science, culture, arts, and public life. Currently, more than 150 Lao students are enrolled in Russian universities, with a quota of 100 state-funded places allocated for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Cultural engagements thrive. Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism of the Lao PDR Suanesavanh Vignaket participated in the 9th and 10th St Petersburg International Cultural Forums – United Cultures Forums (November 2023 and September 2024).
A Russian Film Festival was held in the Lao capital in April 2023, followed by concerts of the Turetsky Choir Art Group in November 2023 and 2024. In May 2024, Vientiane hosted Days of Russian Cinema and events marking Slavic Literature and Culture Day, including a performance by soloists from the St Petersburg Music House.
The Days of Moscow in Vientiane (October–November 2024) and Days of Vientiane in Moscow (February 2025) featured cultural and business initiatives to strengthen ties between the capitals. During the visit of Vientiane Mayor Atsaphangthong Siphandone to Russia in February–March 2025, a Cooperation Programme between the Moscow Government and Vientiane Mayor’s Office for 2025–2028 and a Twin Cities Agreement covering trade, economic, scientific, technical, and socio-humanitarian spheres with St Petersburg were signed.
Lao school students regularly visit the Okean (Ocean) National Children’s Centre in the Primorye Territory. In 2024, the centre hosted 25 Lao children, following 24 in 2023.
