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Laos and Malaysia officially launched celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations at a ceremony in Vientiane on July 3, reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation and regional partnership.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Maithong Thammavongsa, Malaysian Ambassador to Laos Edi Irwan Mahud, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of international organizations.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Edi Irwan Mahud said the anniversary logo unveiled during the event symbolizes six decades of friendship, mutual respect, and cooperation since diplomatic relations were established on July 1, 1966. He noted that bilateral ties have evolved into a broad and forward-looking partnership encompassing political, economic, and people-to-people cooperation.
The ambassador highlighted the growing momentum of high-level exchanges, including the official visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Laos in 2023 and the visit of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone to Malaysia in 2025. He said continued engagements under the two countries' successive ASEAN chairmanships reflect their shared commitment to regional cooperation and integration.
Ambassador Edi noted that Malaysia is currently Laos' fourth-largest trading partner within ASEAN and the country's 13th-largest trading partner globally.
Deputy Minister Maithong said Laos and Malaysia have built a strong partnership over the past six decades based on friendship, trust, mutual respect, and shared interests. He noted that the two countries have worked closely together in bilateral, regional, and international forums to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development.
He added that Malaysia ranks as the fourth-largest foreign investor in Laos, with cumulative investment totaling approximately US$946 million. Bilateral trade exceeded US$65 million in 2025, up from about US$43 million in 2024.
A series of commemorative activities, including exchanges of congratulatory messages, high-level visits, and bilateral meetings, will be held throughout 2026 to celebrate the anniversary and further deepen cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, education, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.
KPL
