Laos Strengthens Regional Cooperation as SCO Dialogue Partner

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith met with Nurlan Yermekbayev, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), on August 31 on the sidelines of the SCO Plus meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. President Thongloun expressed his appreciation for the SCO Secretary-General’s efforts to strengthen substantive cooperation within the organisation, contributing to peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and beyond. He highlighted the signing in July 2026 of the Memorandum of Understanding granting Laos SCO Dialogue Partner status, describing it as an important milestone in Lao-SCO relations. He reaffirmed Laos’ commitment to actively and responsibly participating in SCO mechanisms and translating its new status into practical cooperation. The President identified four priority areas for Lao-SCO cooperation: trade, investment and manufacturing capacity; agriculture and food security; connectivity, integration and trade facilitation; and digital transformation and human resource development. Mr Yermekbayev congratulated Laos on becoming an SCO Dialogue Partner and reaffirmed the SCO Secretariat’s readiness to coordinate with Laos in advancing cooperation in these priority areas for tangible and substantive results. President Thongloun Sisoulith of the Lao PDR arrived in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, on August 31 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus (SCO Plus) Summit, held from August 31 to September 1, 2026. Source: KPL Laos News