The event was held on the sidelines of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
Opening the discussion, Mr. Thongphan Savanphet, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Lao PDR to the United Nations, stressed that while the 2030 Agenda represents a shared global vision, its success depends on strong national ownership. He highlighted SDG 18 – "Lives Safe from Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)", Laos' nationally adopted Sustainable Development Goal, as a critical driver of humanitarian action, poverty reduction, infrastructure development, agriculture, education, and environmental sustainability.
Mr. Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed the Lao Government's commitment to implementing SDG 18 and fulfilling its obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). He said the country's Safe Path Forward III strategy provides a comprehensive framework covering survey and clearance operations, risk education, victim assistance, and international cooperation. Despite significant progress, he noted that extensive contamination and the need for predictable, long-term international funding remain major challenges.
The Deputy Minister expressed appreciation to UNDP for nearly three decades of support in strengthening national capacity, policy development, resource mobilization, information management, and implementation of the CCM. He also invited all delegations to participate in the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which Laos will host in Vientiane from September 13–18, 2026.
Representing UNDP, Mr. Haoliang Xu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator, emphasized that unexploded ordnance continues to claim lives, restrict agricultural production, increase infrastructure costs, and hinder sustainable development. He called for greater international financial support to accelerate clearance efforts and praised the Lao Government's leadership in integrating UXO action into national development through SDG 18, its National UXO Strategy, and the National Committee.
Senior representatives from several UN member states, including Azerbaijan, the Philippines, Norway, Cambodia, Australia, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, and the organization Legacies of War, also shared experiences on mine action, international cooperation, and the contribution of the Convention on Cluster Munitions to sustainable development and humanitarian objectives.