Japan Alumni of Laos marks 25 years as a living bridge between Laos and Japan

When the Japan Alumni of Laos (JAOL) was founded on May 11, 2001, few could have imagined how deeply it would shape relations between Laos and Japan over the next two decades. Today, as the association celebrates its 25th anniversary, JAOL stands not merely as a network of alumni of Japanese academic institutions, but as a dynamic force advancing diplomacy, development, and people-to-people ties between the two nations.
As a collective member of the Laos-Japan Friendship Association and operating under the Friendship Division of the Public Relations Department of the Committee for External Relations of the Party Central Committee, JAOL was created with a clear vision: to unify Lao alumni of Japanese academic institutions and harness their expertise for national development.

From Graduates to Nation-Builders
Over the past 25 years, JAOL has expanded into a community of approximately 600 members, all Lao nationals who studied or trained in Japan for at least six months. Many were beneficiaries of prestigious scholarship programmes such as MEXT, JDS, JICA initiatives, YLP and regional fellowships.
These alumni now serve across ministries, universities, private enterprises and development organisations in Laos. Collectively, they bring Japanese technical knowledge, management culture and innovation experience back home, contributing to socio-economic development while strengthening institutional partnerships between Laos and Japan.
JAOL’s three core objectives remain constant: unity among members, contribution to national development, and enhancement of Laos-Japan and ASEAN-Japan friendship.
In 2012, JAOL elevated its regional profile by joining the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA), and it currently sits on the Executive Board of Asia Japan Alumni (ASJA), positioning Laos firmly within a broader ASEAN-Japan alumni network.

A Platform for Regional Dialogue
One of JAOL’s recent milestones was hosting the 23rd ASJA-ASCOJA Symposium on September 12, 2025, in Vientiane. Under the theme “Towards Sustainable Food Systems: Cooperation for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Innovation in ASEAN and Japan”, the gathering brought together former Japanese government scholarship recipients from across ASEAN to share solutions on agriculture resilience and climate challenges.
The symposium illustrated how alumni diplomacy can evolve beyond social networking into substantive policy dialogue. By connecting Lao professionals with their ASEAN counterparts and Japanese experts, JAOL continues to translate educational exchange into tangible regional cooperation.
Ambassador’s Recognition
Speaking at the symposium, the Ambassador of Japan to Laos, Mr Koizumi Tsutomu, commended the association’s consistent efforts.
“Japanese alumni are not only professionals contributing to their nation’s development but also serve as a vital ‘bridge’ that strengthens the bond between ASEAN and Japan. Seeing the achievements of everyone in Laos brings me great joy. I look forward to your continued efforts as a bridge between Japan and Laos,” the Ambassador said.
His remarks captured the essence of JAOL’s mission, alumni as diplomats in their own right, strengthening bilateral trust through expertise, shared experience and mutual respect.

Leadership for a New Era
In May 2025, JAOL elected its 8th Executive Committee, continuing a tradition of adaptive leadership responsive to global and regional changes.
President of JAOL, Ms Bouasone Vongthavone,  commented: “Over the past 25 years, JAOL members have carried not only academic knowledge from Japan but also values such as discipline, innovation and community spirit. We consider ourselves a living bridge between Laos and Japan. Our mission is to pass this spirit to the next generation of Lao students.”
From organising Study in Japan Fairs to holding the popular “Sabaidee Japan” cultural festival at Patuxay, JAOL continuously creates spaces where Japanese culture and Lao society connect.
The association has also demonstrated social solidarity by raising funds for disaster relief, including support for victims of the Tohoku and Kumamoto earthquakes in Japan. 
Investing in Youth, Building the Future
Beyond professional networking, JAOL plays a critical role in youth exchanges. Programmes such as Toshiba Youth Club Asia (TYCA), grassroots initiatives like the National Institute for Youth Education (NIYE) Exchange, and the Children Communication on Earth (CCE), nurture heart-to-heart friendships between Lao and Japanese students.
Through these platforms, Lao high school and university students gain firsthand exposure to Japan’s technological innovation, environmental sustainability efforts and cultural depth, experiences that often inspire lifelong academic and professional collaboration.
In an era when diplomacy increasingly relies on people-to-people connections, JAOL demonstrates how alumni networks can transcend ceremony. By integrating educational exchange, economic cooperation and cultural understanding, the association has matured into one of the strongest civil-society pillars underpinning Laos-Japan relations.
As Laos and Japan continue to deepen cooperation in areas ranging from infrastructure and agriculture to digital innovation and human resource development, the Japan Alumni of Laos stands as proof that education is not simply a scholarship opportunity, it is a lasting investment in friendship.
After 25 years, JAOL’s achievements affirm a simple truth: bridges built through shared learning endure the test of time.

By Advertorial Desk
(Latest Update February 25, 2026)