On July 8, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane presented the ambassador with the Friendship Medal on behalf of the Lao government in recognition of his efforts to deepen bilateral relations across politics, trade, investment, education, tourism, agriculture, banking, clean energy and people-to-people exchanges.
The foreign minister noted that relations between the two countries have continued to strengthen over the past six decades, highlighting Malaysia's support for Laos' 2024 ASEAN Chairmanship, the Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), which has trained more than 2,000 Lao officials since 1991, and the ambassador's role in promoting business cooperation and investment, including the inaugural ASEAN-Malaysia Business Summit held in Laos last year.
During separate farewell calls on July 8 and 9, Vice President Vienthong Siphandone and Bounleua Phandanouvong, Head of the Commission for External Relations of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, also praised the ambassador for strengthening cooperation in education, trade, investment and tourism, while advancing friendship between the two countries.
They expressed confidence that, after returning to Malaysia, he would continue supporting closer bilateral cooperation and further promote party-to-party and people-to-people exchanges.
Ambassador Eddy Iwan thanked the Lao Party, government and people for their strong support throughout his more than three-year posting, describing the experience as both productive and memorable.
He pledged to continue serving as a bridge for closer Laos-Malaysia relations by encouraging greater cooperation, investment and exchanges between the two countries after completing his diplomatic assignment.

KPL