(KPL) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a meeting to review its work in 2025 and outline directions for 2026, alongside a ceremony awarding the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal of the founding of the Lao PDR, on December 24, 2025, at the International Cooperation and Training Center (ICTC).

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Ministry Party Administration Committee, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Participants included ministry leaders, department and division committees, senior retired ambassadors and veteran staff, as well as ministry officials based domestically. Lao ambassadors and diplomatic staff stationed abroad joined the meeting via videoconference.

At the meeting, Mr. Bouvanh Douangchak, Head of the Ministry Office, presented a summary report on the results of foreign affairs work in 2025 and the priority plan for 2026. He noted that 2025 was a significant year marked by major national events, including the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao PDR, the 105th birth anniversary of President Kaysone Phomvihane, and the 80th anniversary of Lao Diplomacy Day, all of which the Ministry actively supported and participated in.

Despite a complex and unpredictable regional and international environment, foreign affairs work in 2025 achieved positive results across bilateral and multilateral engagements. These included the effective and economically efficient organization of high-level foreign visits and participation in regional and international meetings. Lao diplomatic missions abroad actively advanced political, economic, people-to-people, and cultural diplomacy, successfully mobilizing external cooperation, international support, and assistance. These efforts helped safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Lao PDR in regional and international forums, mobilize Lao ethnic communities overseas, attract foreign investment and tourism, and promote economic cooperation, making important contributions to national socio-economic development.

On this occasion, Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane provided guidance and called on leaders and staff at all levels, both at home and abroad, to build on existing achievements. He emphasized the need to maintain unity, work proactively with modern approaches, and enhance the quality of foreign affairs advisory services to ensure maximum national benefit. He reiterated adherence to the foreign policy guideline of “peace, independence, friendship and cooperation,” in line with the direction of “increasing friends and reducing enemies,” and the implementation of “preventive and breakthrough diplomacy for protecting and building the nation.”

He also stressed continued implementation of the resolutions of the 5th Congress of Party Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the slogan “breakthrough in economic diplomacy, modernization transformation, and agility in advisory work,” with a focus on achieving concrete results. Other priorities include strengthening political diplomacy and socio-cultural work, applying modern technology to improve advisory efficiency, enhancing political-ideological education and capacity building for diplomats and staff, implementing projects under the Ministry’s four programs and 36 projects for 2026–2030, improving foreign affairs legislation, and strengthening information dissemination on Party and State policies and laws related to foreign affairs. Diplomatic missions abroad were urged to further elevate cooperation with host countries and international organizations, with greater emphasis on economic diplomacy.

On the same occasion, the Ministry awarded the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal of the founding of the Lao PDR to 635 qualified individuals, including 385 active staff and civil servants (106 women) and 250 veteran staff and civil servants (179 women).

KPL