Laos Expands European Ties Through ASEAN-EU Meeting

Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane held five bilateral meetings at the 25th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Brunei from 27 to 28 April. The talks aimed to deepen ties with European partners ahead of Laos’ graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2029.

The highlight of the day was the meeting with Lithuania, where Thongsavanh and Kestutis Budrys signed a new bilateral cooperation agreement establishing a formal consultation mechanism between both foreign ministries. The deal covers trade, investment, tourism, clean energy, digital transformation, and UXO clearance. 

Budrys congratulated Thongsavanh on his appointment, and both sides marked over 30 years of relations since September 1994.

In a special meeting with Portugal, Thongsavanh and Ana Isabel Xavier, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, celebrated three decades of diplomatic relations established in 1995 and agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, education, clean energy, and UXO clearance. 

Lao Foreign Minister also invited Portugal to the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which Vientiane will host later this year.

Turning to Austria, Laos’ one of the oldest European partners with ties dating to 1967. Two countries reaffirmed their relationship and set the 60th anniversary in 2027 as a milestone for deeper cooperation across several sectors.

In talks with Cyprus, both sides reviewed their relationship since 2000 and identified new opportunities for engagement. Laos briefed Cyprus on its national development priorities and LDC transition plans.

Rounding out the day, Laos and Slovakia reaffirmed friendly ties and agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, education, and development assistance, strengthening Laos’ broader engagement with Central European partners, the fifth and final meeting of the day.

Across all five meetings, Laos consistently framed its LDC graduation as an opportunity to attract European development support and build new economic partnerships ahead of 2029.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/04/30/laos-expands-european-ties-through-asean-eu-meeting/