Ambassador Pedro Zwahlen (left) and Mme. Viengthong Siphandone (right) during the official farewell call at Presidential Palace.

In a recent media interview marking the twentieth anniversary of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Vientiane (2006–2026), Mr. Pedro Zwahlen, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Lao PDR, reflected on the evolution of bilateral ties and the steady expansion of cooperation over the decades.
“I was here to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between the Lao PDR and Switzerland back in 2023, together with Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, who was then the Minister of Foreign Affairs, now Deputy Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, and now I have the opportunity to celebrate for the second time. We have twenty years of establishment of our cooperation office here in Vientiane, and we have a steady development over 60 years of more and more cooperation.”

Jean-Gabriel Duss, SDC Regional Director (second to left),  Mme. Bounkham Vorachit, Governor of Bank of Lao PDR (middle), Ambassador Pedro Zwahlen (second to right) and Mr. Chanthanet Boualapha, Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Environment (far right) at the official 20th Anniversary celebration of Swiss representation in Lao PDR.

The twentieth anniversary of the Cooperation Office highlights Switzerland’s long-term commitment to development partnership in Laos, complementing the broader bilateral relationship established more than six decades ago.
The Ambassador also noted that despite the geographical distance between the two countries, there are meaningful similarities that contribute to mutual understanding.
“Our countries are 8,800 kilometers apart, and they seem very different at first glance, but then you see similarities. We both have five neighbours, and we are both landlocked or land-linked countries."

Both Switzerland and the Lao PDR are shaped by iconic river systems: such as the Rhine and the Rhône in the one and the Mekong in the other. Being surrounded by powerful neighbours has enabled both countries to find national strength through regional connectivity, active international cooperation and constructive diplomatic dialogue.
Throughout his tenure, the Ambassador has visited Laos extensively, both officially and privately, gaining a deeper appreciation of the country and witnessing firsthand the impact of development cooperation.

“I had the opportunity to travel a lot to the Lao PDR. Eight times I visited the country officially and twice I came privately, to spend holidays and to get to know the country better. One of the projects that struck me very much is a project in the South, where Switzerland helps communities to save fish reservoirs in the Mekong River together with WWF. It clearly shows how much the human communities and the relations between human beings and development are connected.”
Such initiatives, one of many, highlight Switzerland’s focus on sustainable development and locally driven solutions, particularly in areas where environmental protection and livelihoods are closely linked.
Beyond his official work, the Ambassador shared personal reflections from his travels across Laos, describing the country’s natural beauty and cultural richness.

“The Lao PDR is a beautiful country with great landscapes, great people and incredible handicraft talents. So it is worth visiting for tourists, and I was also here to explore that potential on my own. I took my car and drove from Bangkok once with my parents to Vientiane and to the southern part of Laos, and another time with my wife to the northern part of Laos. I also went to rural areas. I went to see Pak Beng, which is on the beautiful Mekong River, in a region hardly anybody visits, and I came back home with great impressions. These impressions will stay with me forever, and I have beautiful photographs from the trips.”

As the interview concluded, the Ambassador expressed gratitude for the opportunity to strengthen ties between Switzerland and Laos and extended his well wishes to the Lao people.
“It has been a privilege to get to know this wonderful country and its people. I am grateful to have contributed to strengthening the friendship between Switzerland and Laos. I wish the people of Laos all the best during these challenging times, and I am pleased that Switzerland will continue to stand alongside them.”
The twentieth anniversary of the Swiss representation stands as a testament to a long-standing partnership grounded in mutual respect, shared priorities, and a continued commitment to sustainable development.

KPL