Ms. Oya Yazar, Ambassador of Türkiye to Laos

The celebration was attended by Mr. Phosay Sayasone, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr. Maythong Thammavongsa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, Ms. Oya Yazar, Ambassador of Türkiye to Laos, along with ambassadors, representatives of international organizations, government officials, and members of the diplomatic community.

In her address, Ambassador Oya Yazar highlighted the historical significance of Türkiye’s National Day, recalling the proclamation of the Republic on October 29, 1923, under the visionary leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. “As we celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the founding of our Republic—a day of pride, reflection, and gratitude—we also remember with eternal respect and appreciation all the fallen soldiers and patriots whose sacrifices made our independence possible,” she said.

Ambassador Yazar also reflected on the long-standing and friendly relations between Türkiye and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), which were established in 1958. “Since the beginning of our diplomatic relations, our two nations have enjoyed warm ties rooted in mutual respect and goodwill,” she said, adding that recent years have witnessed renewed momentum in bilateral cooperation through high-level visits and practical partnerships.

She cited the visit of Deputy Prime Minister and then Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith to Ankara in February 2024, and the reciprocal visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs  Hakan Fidan to Vientiane in July 2024, as key milestones that opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. The two foreign ministers also met in Kuala Lumpur later that month on the sidelines of the ASEAN–Türkiye Sectoral Dialogue Partnership Trilateral Meeting, further deepening dialogue and collaboration.

Türkiye’s development cooperation in Laos has expanded notably through the work of TİKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency) and other institutions. “Türkiye has implemented 27 development projects in Laos—15 of them in the last two years—focusing on agriculture, health, education, disaster management, and women’s empowerment,” Ambassador Yazar noted.

She reaffirmed Türkiye’s continued support for Laos on its journey toward graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, emphasizing cooperation in capacity building and sustainable development. As co-chair of the Group of Friends of LDCs, Türkiye has played an active role in promoting the development agenda, hosting the Fourth UN Conference on LDCs in Istanbul in 2011, and since 2018, serving as host to the UN Technology Bank for LDCs.

Looking ahead, Ambassador Yazar underscored Türkiye’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Laos in various fields, including trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, transport, digitalization, culture, tourism, education, health, and agriculture, as well as disaster management and parliamentary diplomacy. She also expressed hope for the opening of a Lao Embassy in Ankara in the near future, symbolizing the growing friendship between the two nations.

KPL