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On 7 May 2026, Lao PDR and Australia reaffirmed their longstanding partnership during a courtesy call by Australian Ambassador to the Lao PDR, Ms Megan Jones, on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports (MoES), Mr Thongsalith Mangnomek.
Ambassador Jones congratulated Deputy Prime Minister Thongsalith on his recent appointments and reiterated Australia’s desire to continue working closely with Laos in sectors including education, human resource development and socio-cultural affairs.
Deputy Prime Minister Thongsalith acknowledged the significant contributions Australia had made to the development of Laos. He emphasised the importance of expanding collaboration between the two countries. He warmly welcomed Australia’s support for the Lao Government’s education reforms, particularly its focus on training quality teachers.
Ambassador Jones reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting basic education and inclusive learning in Laos, including through the Basic Education Quality and Access in the Lao PDR (BEQUAL) and Spoken Lao programme. The Spoken Lao programme creates tangible impact for Laos’ development, significantly improving learning outcomes for non-Lao speaking students in BEQUAL target districts.
Both sides discussed continued cooperation under the Laos Australia Institute (LAI). Australia highlighted the importance of Australia Awards alumni, noting thousands of Lao graduates had already returned home to contribute to government, private sector and their communities across Laos. Ambassador Jones also reaffirmed Australia’s support to Laos’ National Human Resource Development Strategy to 2035 to ensure a future‑ready Lao workforce.
Deputy Prime Minister Thongsalith, as President of the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children, thanked Australia for its socio-cultural work with UN agencies, including funding Provincial Counselling and Protection Centres with UNFPA. He reinforced the importance of cooperation that promoted gender equality, child protection, youth skills development and the wellbeing of Lao families.
On health, Australia’s scientific innovation was supporting childhood immunisation and combatting mosquito-borne diseases in Laos. In 2026, Australia will expand the Wolbachia mosquito release programme to Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Champasak provinces. Deputy Prime Minister Thongsalith commended Australia’s work and encouraged future collaboration.
Both sides agreed to explore opportunities to further strengthen collaboration in business, trade and investment, noting the success of Australian companies Linfox Logistics and Costa Group in establishing business operations in Laos and contributing to Laos’ social-economic development.
KPL
