The event, held in Vientiane Capital, was attended by Malaysia’s Ambassador to the Lao PDR Ms. Norli Muadza Noor, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassadors and other dignitaries.
In her remarks, Norli highlighted the meaning of Merdeka Day (National Day), saying Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim has described independence as the protection of sovereignty and justice, while preserving national unity.
He also pointed to Malaysia’s economic development, including 6 percent GDP growth in the second quarter of 2026 and a 15th-place ranking in global competitiveness.Economic ties between Malaysia and Laos have continued to grow. Bilateral trade reached US$55.9 million in 2025, up 28.7 percent from the previous year, while Malaysia’s cumulative investment in Laos stood at about US$946 million, making it the country’s fourth-largest foreign investor.

The two countries are also working together on infrastructure and energy initiatives, including the ASEAN Express Rail and the Lao-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP).
Cooperation extends to banking, defence and education. Malaysian financial institutions continue to operate in Laos, while the two sides work through bilateral channels and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) framework.
Malaysia has also provided scholarships and training through its Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme, which has trained more than 2,000 Lao people.