International relations

Laos and Singapore are pledging to work together to promote trade and investment between the two countries after their trade volume climbed to US$72.5 million in 2015. As of 2016, investment from Singapore stood at US$187 million, ranking the country in eleventh place among all foreign ...

Vietnam needs to find solutions to the increasing number of hydropower dams being built in regional countries, according to Dr Vu Trong Hong, chair of the Vietnam Water Resources Association, and former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Laos is preparing to build the ...

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has called for ASEAN nations to remain united, play a stronger role within the region, and stay true to ASEAN’s principles. Mr Thongloun made the call during his opening remarks at the 49th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Vientiane on 24 ...

The 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took place in Laos’s capital city of Vientiane on July 24 with the participation of 10 Foreign Ministers from ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN Secretary General. The Vietnamese delegation to the meeting was led by Deputy Prime Minister and ...

Southeast Asian nations failed to find common ground on maritime disputes in the South China Sea on July 24 after Cambodia stuck to its demand the group make no reference to an international court ruling against Beijing in a statement, diplomats said. ASEAN is now facing ...

Cambodia and five other countries that share the Mekong River have agreed to open their borders to more commercial truck and tourist bus traffic as part of a transnational agreement aimed at promoting regional logistics and tourism, a senior transport official said on 19 July. Chem ...

The Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency and the Japan International Cooperation Agency have recently signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the development of the Mekong sub-region and promote social and economic advancement in the region and foster connectivity along the Mekong economic corridor. ...

The ten member states of ASEAN aspire to “One Vision, One Identity, One Community.” Their foreign ministers meeting in Laos this July demonstrated again how far the distance is between goal and reality. Like the European Union, the regional organization of Southeast Asia is pulled ...

According to the State Council Information Office of the Chinese foreign ministry, Beijing has invited more than 100 journalists, government officials and members of parliament to visit the country, as well as 100 students to study in China. In what seems likely to be a concerted and ...

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is urging European and Asian countries to jointly combat economic and environmental problems. Thailand currently chairs the Group of 77, an intergovernmental organisation consisting of 134 developing nations which aim to jointly develop their economies. Though the G-77 members have increased ...