ຂປລ
The Lao PDR and Brunei Darussalam have reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening friendly relations and strengthening their strategic partnership following the official visit of Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, and his spouse and delegation to Brunei Darussalam from October 19–22, 2025. The visit was made at the invitation of Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam.
(KPL) The Lao PDR and Brunei Darussalam have reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening friendly relations and strengthening their strategic partnership following the official visit of Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, and his spouse and delegation to Brunei Darussalam from October 19–22, 2025. The visit was made at the invitation of Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam.
The visit aimed to promote and solidify the long-standing friendship, cooperation, and strategic partnership between the two ASEAN member states.
Bilateral Meeting with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs
On October 20, 2025, at the Ash-Shura Guest House in Bandar Seri Begawan, Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane held a bilateral meeting with Second Minister Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof. Both sides highly valued the enduring friendship and robust cooperation between Laos and Brunei, developed through bilateral and multilateral frameworks.
During the meeting, the two Ministers reviewed past cooperation and explored ways to strengthen future collaboration, focusing on several priority sectors including:
Political relations and human resource development, economic, trade, and investment cooperation, agriculture, energy, and tourism promotion
Both sides agreed to continue activating existing bilateral mechanisms, particularly the 5th Meeting of the Laos–Brunei Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC). They also committed to encouraging relevant sectors to effectively implement signed agreements, especially those promoting trade and investment in agriculture and energy. Furthermore, both sides underscored the importance of enhancing people-to-people exchanges to further deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations.
Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Government and people of Brunei for their warm hospitality and continued support for Laos’s socio-economic development, including assistance in human resource development, financial support for disaster relief, and contributions to key infrastructure projects. He also expressed gratitude for Brunei’s support in enabling Laos to successfully chair ASEAN in 2024.
In response, Minister Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof warmly welcomed Minister Thongsavanh and his delegation, noting that this was his first official visit to Brunei since assuming office. He expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and the Lao PDR.
Courtesy Call on His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam
Later the same day, Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane and his delegation paid a courtesy call on His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace.
Minister Thongsavanh conveyed cordial greetings and best wishes from Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, President of the Lao PDR, to His Majesty the Sultan and Her Majesty the Queen. He also extended congratulations to His Majesty on the occasion of his 79th birthday in July 2025 and commended Brunei’s remarkable progress in national development under His Majesty’s wise leadership.
On behalf of the Government and people of the Lao PDR, Minister Thongsavanh expressed sincere gratitude for the continuous support and assistance from the Government and people of Brunei Darussalam, which have contributed significantly to Laos’s socio-economic development and regional engagement.
In return, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah extended a warm welcome to Minister Thongsavanh and his delegation and expressed appreciation for the longstanding friendship between the two nations. His Majesty reaffirmed Brunei’s readiness to continue working closely with the Lao PDR to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation across various sectors, including human resource development, agriculture, energy, trade, and investment.
His Majesty also emphasized the importance of maintaining close coordination through the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation and encouraging greater exchanges between the private sectors of both countries to promote mutual benefits and sustainable development.
The visit of Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane to Brunei Darussalam successfully underscored the strong commitment of both countries to work together for mutual prosperity, peace, stability, and development in the region
KPL
