Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UK and Laos. As one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Laos, the two countries have continuously developed their cooperative relationship since 1955, deepening their partnership in many areas of common concern and writing a chapter of mutual respect and joint progress.
2025 is a milestone year for the development of bilateral relations, with frequent high-level visits injecting strong momentum into the relationship. Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Maithong Thamphongsak led a delegation to London for political consultations, and Lao members of parliament visited the British Parliament. The Lao side warmly received British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Catherine West and British Trade Envoy to Laos Matt West, and both sides reached broad consensus on deepening cooperation in various fields.
Currently, the UK and Laos are focusing on key areas such as climate and nature, health, economic growth, educational exchanges, and unexploded ordnance clearance, working together to promote practical cooperation. Shared values, a spirit of mutual respect, and a shared passion for football have further bridged the gap between the two peoples and solidified their friendship.
In the area of climate and nature cooperation, Laos, as a country in the region most affected by climate change, maintains close collaboration with the UK to vigorously promote green growth and climate resilience. In 2024, the two sides signed the UK-Laos Green Economy Framework, focusing on renewable energy development, climate resilience enhancement, carbon market construction, sustainable finance development, and the promotion of green transportation. Laos has demonstrated strong leadership in sustainable development, with forest cover exceeding 80% and a firm commitment to renewable energy development. The UK, through its Climate-Inclusive Growth Scheme, has pledged £95 million (approximately US$125 million) to help Laos optimize its energy system and improve energy efficiency. This year, the UK officially became a development partner of the Mekong River Commission. Building on existing cooperation, the two sides jointly developed the "One Mekong" mobile application to provide real-time river data and hydrological forecasting services to communities in the region.
In the field of health and wellness, fruitful cooperation has been achieved. Since 2019, the Fleming Foundation has continuously supported Laos, strengthening Laos' laboratory testing capabilities and assisting in its antimicrobial resistance monitoring through professional training and technical knowledge sharing. The ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership platform effectively brings together health professionals from both countries to jointly improve mechanisms for responding to emerging health threats. As the largest sovereign donor to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, the UK has helped Laos provide over 650,000 doses of measles and rubella vaccines, building a strong immune barrier for local children.
Promoting trade and economic integration is a shared goal of both countries. Through the UK-ASEAN Economic Integration Plan, Laos is receiving professional technical support to optimize its regulatory system, improve trade mechanisms, and enhance financial services. Laos' coffee export industry continues to benefit from bilateral cooperation, while the UK's Developing Countries Trade Scheme has opened doors for Lao producers – all Lao goods, except for weapons and ammunition, can enter the UK market duty-free. At the same time, the UK Trade Partnership Scheme provides professional guidance to help Lao enterprises enhance their international competitiveness, laying a solid foundation for their "going global" strategy.
Educational exchange has always been one of the strongest bonds in the UK-Laos bilateral relationship. Each year, 7 to 10 outstanding Lao students receive the prestigious Chivenal Scholarship to pursue advanced studies at top UK universities. It is projected that by 2026, the number of Lao Chivenal Scholarship recipients returning to serve their country will exceed 100, most of whom have assumed important leadership positions in Lao government departments, civil society organizations, and the business community, becoming a backbone force in promoting bilateral cooperation. Furthermore, the UK continues to support Laos in improving the quality of early childhood education, helping Laos enhance its overall human resource capabilities through skills development training and talent exchange programs.
In the field of unexploded ordnance (UO) cleanup, the UK has long been one of Laos's largest donors. Between 2016 and 2023, the UK provided a total of £18.15 million (approximately US$23 million) in aid. Over the past decade, with UK funding, related projects have successfully cleaned up over 22.8 million square meters of contaminated land and safely destroyed over 27,000 UOs. These efforts, primarily implemented by the Khammouane Provincial Mine Advisory Group and the Savannakhet Provincial HALO Trust Fund, have revitalized previously idle land for community use in agriculture and economic development, effectively improving the lives of local people and helping them move towards a safer and more prosperous future.
Looking ahead, the UK and Laos will continue to uphold their original commitments, consolidating the deep friendship built over 70 years and deepening practical cooperation in various fields. Both sides will work hand in hand to promote sustainable economic growth, continuously improve health systems, and actively address global challenges such as climate change, ensuring that the tree of UK-Laos friendship and cooperation bears even more fruitful results in the new era.
