Head of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee’s External Relations Committee, Mr Bounleua Phandanouvong, on Monday receives the Ambassador of the Philippines to Laos, Ms Elizabeth T Te. Mr Bounleua welcomed and congratulated the ambassador, saying he hoped the friendship and relations between Laos and the Philippines would be strengthened. He also congratulated the Ambassador on the success of the 48th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines.   --Photo External Relations Committee

Singapore’s Ambassador to Laos, Mr Ong Siew Gay (left), meets with Minister and Head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Bouakhong Nammavong last week. In 2024, Singapore and Laos celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, when Dr Bouakhong was part of the delegation accompanying Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on an official visit to Singapore. He also participated in a meeting between the two prime ministers, when Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made an official visit to Laos in October 2024. Mr Ong Siew Gay referred to the development partnership between Singapore and Laos through the Singapore Cooperation Programme, noting that Dr Bouakhong is planning to send personnel from the PM’s Office to attend courses in Singapore. The Singapore Embassy looks forward to further discussions with the PM’s Office on ways to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.   --Photo Singapore Embassy to Laos

The opening ceremony of the SOUEAST showroom and the introduction of all four SOUEAST vehicle models by AutoAsia Co., Ltd. took place on the evening of May 18 at the SOUEAST showroom in Vientiane. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Mr Chansavang Bounyong, Deputy Head of the Commission for Information and Education of the Central Committee, Mr Vansy Kuamua, and other officials and invited guests. Mr Anousith Sakounkham, SOUEAST Brand Manager of AutoAsia Co., Ltd., said the opening of the new SOUEAST showroom and the simultaneous launch of the four SOUEAST models  the S06, S06DM (PHEV), S07, and the flagship S08DM (PHEV)  highlights modern technology and elegant design. SOUEAST’s slogan, “Ease Your Life”, reflects the company’s commitment to offering a wide range of vehicle options tailored to customer needs, including fully electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and gasoline powered models.

An official from the Commerce Department of Hunan province in China, Mr Shi Fengang, on Tuesday gives a speech at the 2026 equipment and production investment promotion meeting organised by Hunan province in Vientiane. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Vientiane Administration Office and other bodies. The meeting was hosted by the Commerce Department of Hunan province and Huaihua city authorities. Hunan province is supporting the development of commercial relations between China and Laos.

A total of 35 trainees from Bolikhamxay and Xiengkhouang provinces proudly display their certificates during a group photograph marking the conclusion of a five-day intensive training course on cooperative establishments at the Lao-Korea Agricultural Techniques and Rural Development Service Center (LKARSC) last week. The initiative was organised under the Saemaul Geumgo village savings system project, which receives valuable funding and support from the Government of the Republic of Korea. The closing ceremony was chaired by the Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Cooperatives (DAEC), Dr Anongsone Phommachanh. In his closing address, Dr Anongsone emphasised that fostering cooperatives is a core strategy to boost local production, strengthen rural economies, and sustainably alleviate poverty across ethnic communities. Throughout the programme, which ran during May 11-15, participants from 10 villages studied cooperative regulations, administrative management, financial accounting, and strategic planning to transition grassroots savings groups into pilot cooperatives. Equipped with these practical skills, the trainees expressed strong determination to implement these models at home, confidently declaring their readiness to drive sustainable development and elevate livelihoods within their local communities.