President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone have agreed to deepen cooperation in key areas such as trade, education, defense, and digital innovation as the Philippines and Laos celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, where they discussed enhancing collaboration in agriculture, skills development, tourism, artificial intelligence, and digital technology.
“Bilang paggunita sa 70 taon ng ugnayan ng Pilipinas at Lao PDR, nagkasundo kami ni Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone na lalo pang paigtingin ang pagtutulungan sa kalakalan, edukasyon, at seguridad—at magkaisa para sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran ng rehiyon,” Marcos said in a social media post.
President Marcos also highlighted the growing trade between the two nations, which rose from USD7 million in 2019 to USD13.72 million in 2024. He proposed launching direct flights between Manila and Vientiane to support tourism and stronger ties.
“We would like to strengthen all our relations, trade, defense, and security, and even the people-to-people exchange,” he added, according to a Malacañang statement.
Prime Minister Siphandone acknowledged the contributions of over 2,000 Filipinos in Laos, particularly in education, research, and architecture. He expressed gratitude for the Philippine government’s support through scholarships and language training for Lao ministries.
He also welcomed more Filipino investments in Laos, especially in clean energy, healthcare, advanced technology, and infrastructure. The Laotian leader extended a formal invitation for Marcos to visit Laos, signaling a commitment to stronger cooperation in the years ahead.