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The Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations at a ceremony held on the evening of 17 November 2025 in Vientiane.
(KPL) The Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations at a ceremony held on the evening of 17 November 2025 in Vientiane.
The event was co-hosted by Mr. Maithong Thammavongsa, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, representing the Government of the Lao PDR, and Mr. Remco van Wijngaarden, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Lao PDR (resident in Bangkok), representing the Dutch Government. The celebration was attended by ambassadors accredited to the Lao PDR and invited guests from multiple sectors.
In their remarks, Mr. Maithong and Ambassador van Wijngaarden extended congratulations and highlighted the remarkable achievements in bilateral cooperation over the past five decades. They emphasized that since diplomatic relations were established on 17 November 1975, Laos and the Netherlands have strengthened ties based on mutual trust, respect, and shared interests. This milestone year was further underscored by an exchange of congratulatory messages between the foreign ministers of both nations.
The Netherlands has remained a reliable partner in Laos’s development, providing bilateral and multilateral support across several key sectors, including agriculture and forestry, water resource management, education, public health and food security. The two countries have also maintained close coordination and provided mutual support in regional and international forums.
On behalf of the Government and people of the Lao PDR, Mr. Maithong expressed sincere appreciation to the Government and people of the Netherlands for their steadfast support and cooperation throughout the past 50 years, noting that Dutch contributions have played an important role in advancing sustainable socio-economic development in Laos.
KPL
