Heads of the legislative body of Cambodia and Laos have explored more cooperation for the mutual benefit of two neighbouring nations and peoples.

Hun Sen, President of the Senate of Cambodia, and Saysomphone Phomvihane, President of the Lao National Assembly, met on February 6, 2025, in Vientiane, Laos to discuss the promotion of bilateral cooperation.

In the meeting, both sides spoke highly of the good relationship between the two countries, which has upgraded to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as the cooperation between their legislative bodies through continued exchange of visits between high-level delegations and experts and mutual support in regional and international forums.

The two leaders briefed each other on the latest developments in their respective countries and praised the progress in their national development process.

Hun Sen said that with successive economic growth, Cambodia will graduate from the least developed country status by 2029 and achieve the goal of becoming an upper middle-income country by 2030, while Saysomphone Phomvihane laid stress on the Lao government’s plan to transform Laos from a land lock to a land link country through rail connectivity with neighbouring countries, which will boost trade and tourism.

Saysomphone Phomvihane hoped that the efforts to continue implementing the MoUs and agreements, particularly in the energy sector and the construction of a railway connecting the two countries, will provide opportunities for them to further strengthen their bilateral relations and promote bilateral trade.

Hun Sen urged both governments to promote their bilateral cooperation in all sectors, including security, economy, trade, investment, energy and so on with the legislative body joining in to support the government.