Myanmar President to visit Laos

Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing will embark on a state visit to Laos from July 3 to 5, accompanied by a high-level delegation, at the invitation of Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, The Star reported. According to a statement released by the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit is to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Laos and Myanmar. Furthermore, the visit is expected to further strengthen the long-term and robust friendship, close neighborly relations, and cooperation between the two countries, fostering a relationship that will benefit both nations. Laos and Myanmar established diplomatic relations in 1955, and since then, they have maintained friendly relations and cooperation in all sectors through bilateral, regional, and international frameworks. During the visit, President U Min Aung Hlaing will hold discussions with Lao leaders and is expected to participate in diplomatic activities between the two countries. A delegation led by Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Thongsaïkone Phomvihan made an official visit to Myanmar from June 11 to June 13, 2026. During that visit, the Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs met with President U Min Aung Hlaing and discussed the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two countries and the prospects for further promotion, the prospects for strengthening cooperation in the political, economic, educational, health, cultural, and trade sectors between the two countries, the status of mutual visits by national leaders, the prospects for promoting trade through the Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge, the prospects for further developing existing friendship and cooperation between the people through cooperation, the prospects for enhancing relations not only between the two countries but also with regional countries and ASEAN countries through cooperation in various sectors, the status of cooperation within ASEAN to be the best and the implementation of ASEAN's five-point consensus, the status of steadfastly continuing on the path of multi-party democracy and the efforts of the elected government to achieve domestic peace and national development, the Lao side's full understanding of Myanmar's political developments, and the situation of jointly facing and overcoming difficulties encountered by Myanmar and Laos and mutually assisting each other. Furthermore, Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith extended an invitation letter to President U Min Aung Hlaing for a state visit to Laos, which was handed over to President U Min Aung Hlaing by the Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. While serving as the interim President and Chairman of the State Administration Council, President U Min Aung Hlaing made a working visit to China in early September 2025, where he held a private meeting with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, who was in China, in Tianjin. They discussed issues related to stability and peace in the border areas between the two countries, prospects for further strengthening friendly relations and cooperation between the two governments, prospects for further expanding the tourism and trade sectors, issues related to cooperation between the two armies, and issues related to continuing to strengthen cooperation in various other sectors.