ຂປລ
The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and Portugal have highly valued their friendship and cooperation, which has seen continuous growth since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 31 May 1995.
The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and Portugal have highly valued their friendship and cooperation, which has seen continuous growth since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 31 May 1995.
This affirmation came during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the 25th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Brunei Darussalam on the afternoon of 27 April 2026.
Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, received Ms. Ana Isabel Xavier, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Portugal.
The meeting aimed to further enhance the friendly relations and cooperation between the two nations.
During their discussions, both sides lauded the significant progress in their bilateral ties, particularly noting the meaningful celebration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.
They also deliberated on various areas of cooperation, including the exchange of delegation visits, and boosting collaboration in economy, trade, education, clean energy, digital transformation, and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance. These efforts are intended to support the Lao PDR's sustainable development goals.
Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, on behalf of the Lao government and its people, expressed gratitude to Portugal for its invaluable assistance, which aligns with the Lao PDR's national socio-economic development plan.
He underscored the importance of international support as the Lao PDR prepares to graduate from its Least Developed Country (LDC) status between 2026 and 2029.
The Lao Deputy Prime Minister extended an official invitation to Portugal to participate in the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), scheduled to be held in Vientiane, Laos, in 2026.
In response, Ms. Xavier congratulated Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane on his appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
She expressed confidence that the friendship and cooperation between Laos and Portugal would continue to strengthen in the future.
Both officials also exchanged views on ASEAN-EU cooperation and regional and international situations of mutual interest.
KPL
