The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice President of the National UXO Committee, Mr. Anouparb Vongnorkeo, and UNDP Resident Representative to Laos Ms. Martine Thérer. Participants included provincial leaders, deputy ministers from relevant agencies, diplomats, donor representatives, and development partners.
The meeting reviewed progress in UXO clearance and related activities during the first half of 2026 and outlined priorities for the remainder of the year. Discussions covered cooperation among stakeholders, management of humanitarian operators and private UXO clearance companies, key achievements, ongoing challenges, and implementation of national UXO programmes.
Participants also examined budget utilization and proposed revisions to the 2026 work plan and financial allocations presented by the UXO Lao Office. Reports were delivered by the 523 Center and the National UXO Clearance Programme (UXO Lao) on project implementation and future priorities. UNDP, a major partner in the sector, provided updates on project implementation, financial management, and quality assurance measures to ensure compliance with international standards.

In his closing remarks, Deputy Minister Anouparb commended the progress achieved during the first six months of the year and called on all sectors to accelerate implementation of approved activities for the remainder of 2026. He stressed that efforts should be guided by the mid-term review of the UXO Sector Strategy, Path to Safety III.
He also emphasized the importance of strengthening the financial sustainability of the UXO sector through a medium- and long-term resource mobilization strategy, enhancing coordination with other development sectors, and establishing mechanisms to maximize the effective use of available resources.
The Deputy Minister reaffirmed that hosting the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions remains a key priority for the Lao Government and expressed appreciation for the trust placed in the Lao PDR by the international community to chair and host the conference. He also thanked development partners and donor countries for their continued support.
The meeting concluded in a constructive atmosphere, with representatives from government agencies, local authorities, international organizations, and development partners exchanging views and proposing measures to address remaining challenges. The shared objective is to accelerate progress toward resolving the UXO legacy, safeguarding communities across the country, and advancing the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 18 and the Path to Safety III strategy.