Kuala Lumpur, May 26 (AseanAll) — Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone onMay 26, 2025 reaffirmed their commitment to further advancing bilateral relations. This year, the Philippines and Laos marked the 70th year of diplomatic relations.
Marcos met with Siphandone on the sidelines of the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia. Both leaders expressed their shared intention to deepen cooperation across key areas of mutual interest.
The two leaders highlighted key areas of bilateral cooperation, including defense, trade, investment, and education, reaffirming their shared commitment to deepening collaboration across these strategic sectors.
Marcos acknowledged the “great potential” for increased trade between the Philippines and Laos, citing the latter’s rapid economic growth as a promising avenue for expanded economic engagement.
Trade between the Philippines and Laos has seen notable growth, rising to approximately US$13.72 million in 2024 from around US$7 million in 2019, reflecting the strengthening of economic ties between the two nations.
Looking ahead, both sides identified additional areas for enhanced cooperation, including agriculture, skills development, tourism, and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology.
“We would like to strengthen all our relations, trade, defense, and security, and even the people-to-people exchange,” Marcos said, adding that both countries can look into establishing flights connecting Manila to Vientiane, Laos’s capital and largest city.
Siphandone acknowledged the contributions of the more than 2,000-strong Filipino community in Laos to education, research, and architecture.
He thanked the Philippine government for providing language training and scholarships for its ministries.
The Laotian leader noted Filipino investments in the clean energy sector and invited more Filipino investments in his country’s priority areas, including advanced technology research, clean agriculture, the agro-processing industry, tourism, education, health services, and infrastructure.
Sonexay Siphandone, expressing keen interest in further deepening bilateral relations, extended an invitation to President Marcos for an official state visit to Laos.
