Russian Diplomatic Service Day

In Russia, the National Diplomatic Service Day is celebrated annually on February 10 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the embassies and diplomatic missions abroad.
This professional holiday was established officially in October 2002 by the Russian President’s decree. However, the Russian diplomatic service received its official status much earlier – in 1549, when the first reference to it was made in Russian chronicles as the Ambassadorial Order (“Posolsky Prikaz”).

Over time, the Order was transformed several times and eventually got its present name as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1946. A lot has changed since then. Nevertheless, the fact that the official holiday has been established for our diplomats indicates that our government has recognised the importance of their contribution to the consolidation of the Russian statehood. On this day, a solemn ceremony is held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during which the Minister and representatives of other federal government agencies deliver their welcoming speeches, diplomatic service officers and veterans are awarded, flowers are laid to the memorial Plaque. At present, the Russian Federation maintains diplomatic relations with 191 states and has over 10,000 employees in its staff.
Nowadays, in the interests of the establishment of a just, democratic and multipolar world order, modern Russian diplomacy is actively working to strengthen the unity of the global majority – of countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, defending such general principles of International law as equal rights and mutual respect, political and diplomatic settlement of disputes and conflicts, and mutually beneficial cooperation to make progress towards solutions to regional and global problems. The international partnership with CIS countries, EAEU, CSTO, and BRICS remains a top priority. Our diplomatic efforts are aimed not only at creating favourable conditions for our country’s sustainable national development, but also at maintaining global stability.
Celebrating this professional Diplomatic Day, we can’t but mentioning our relations with the Lao PDR – our long-standing partner and close friend in the South-East Asia, the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations with which we are going to celebrate extensively on October 7 this year. Lately, through the endeavors of the diplomats and public servants of both countries, our bilateral relations have experienced a dynamic development in a number of areas: economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, security issues and military-technical assistance. Such a successful result was achieved through the similar or close approaches of Russia and the Lao PDR to the world issues – in the international area our countries stand in solidarity with the idea of defending a multipolar and equal world order, and support such an important initiative as struggling against the glorification of Nazism and neonazism, cybercrime and ensuring international information security.
Despite the global challenges, the past few years have been marked by a number of historical events in our relations. The contacts at the high level continued to develop. In May 2024, President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mr Thongloun Sisoulith paid a visit to the Russian Federation and had substantial talks with President of Russia Vladimir Putin, and Chairman of the All-Russia political party “United Russia”, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev. In 2024 the contacts between Foreign Ministers of our countries were held regularly constituting an important pillar of cooperation between our countries. Heads of other governmental agencies of both States met at different venues from time to time to discuss issues of mutual interest in a constructive manner.
Our bilateral interaction in trade and economic spheres continues to develop as well. The preparations are underway for the next 18th Session of the Intergovernmental Russian-Lao Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which will cover the spheres of new technologies, innovations, power industry, use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, medicine, tourism, air communication, interbank interaction and other spheres.
Special attention in our cooperation continues to be paid to UXO clearance, which has been carried out by Russian Mine Clearance Units since 2018 and remains highly significant for the Lao PDR in terms of enhancing the safety of the local livelihoods and rural development.
Furthermore, over the past years Russia has been implementing a number of programs in Laos in the spheres of public health, human resources and professional skills development. The Groundbreaking Ceremony of the rehabilitation of the “Mittaphab” Hospital of Lao-Russian Friendship took place recently in Vientiane. This renovation project, funded by the Russian aid and engineered by the UNOPS, will redesign and upgrade this hospital to be more efficient and sustainable, providing innovative medical services to its patients. It is a great step toward to a healthier and sustainable future for the Lao PDR’s citizens.
Our relations in cultural and educational spheres continue to develop steadily as well. Each year the government of the Russian Federation provides quota of 100 scholarships to Lao students and today several hundreds of the Lao young people are studying in Russia, preparing to become high qualified specialists in the near future. Last October, the “Days of Moscow” were held in Vientiane, the “Vientiane Days” are expected to be held in Moscow this year. It is also planned to organise a tour of the Moscow Circus in Laos.
Moreover, Russia and Laos maintain close contacts between their foreign ministries. The interaction between Russian MGIMO University and Lao Institute of International Relations has been established, Lao young people, future diplomats, study at MGIMO University and other Russian specialised universities.
It should be also noted that in 2025 we will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. The joint celebration of these dates with friendly countries and our supporters, including Laos, based on mutual respect and traditional values, will be an important event on our current diplomatic agenda.
So, celebrating the Russian Diplomatic Service Day in Vientiane, we are confident that in cooperation with Lao MFA and our Lao diplomatic colleagues we would be able to contribute to our bilateral relations with the Lao PDR in all spheres for the benefit of our countries and peoples.
Summing up, I would like to use this opportunity to convey my sincere congratulations to all our colleagues-diplomats, and to wish all the readers of “Vientiane Times” and all our Lao partners – good health, success, prosperity and well-being!
This story is contributed by Vladimir Kalinin Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Lao PDR.

(Latest Update Februray 12, 2025)

 (Latest Update February 12, 2025)