Myanmar-Laos agree to upgrade relations to strategic partnership, conduct feasibility study on hydropower

Myanmar and Laos have agreed to upgrade their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, and regarding hydropower, they have agreed to conduct a feasibility study on hydropower generation along the Mekong River, said the spokesperson for the State Administration Council Chairman's Office. Dr. Khine Khine Soe, the spokesperson for the State Administration Council Chairman's Office, stated this in response to questions from state-owned and private media that were part of the delegation accompanying State Administration Council Chairman and Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on his state visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic from July 3 to 5. Dr. Daw Khine Khine Soe, spokesperson for the State Administration Council Chairman's Office, said, "During the Myanmar-Laos visit, first and foremost, we agreed to upgrade our bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. Regarding hydropower, Myanmar and Laos have signed an agreement to conduct a feasibility study on how much hydropower can be generated along the Mekong River. We have also signed an agreement on labor matters. Furthermore, we have signed an agreement to establish sister city ties between Nay Pyi Taw and Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and to work together on this. We have also discussed several points. These include the operation of air routes between Kyaing Tong and Luang Prabang, increasing trade in border areas, and exchanging information and cooperating in efforts to combat drug trafficking and online scams in border areas." Dr. Khine Khine Soe stated that the Chairman has always provided guidance that energy security is fundamental to national development, and therefore, this agreement could be one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to find methods for Myanmar to obtain the electricity energy it needs. "If this process is successful, and if we can jointly develop hydropower resources through studies based on this agreement, it will bring great benefits to the people of both countries," said Dr. Khine Khine Soe. She mentioned that Laos has reached a stage where it can sell electricity to Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, and Myanmar wishes to study this situation. Dr. Daw Khine Khine Soe, spokesperson for the State Administration Council Chairman's Office, said, "Laos is a country with only the Mekong River. Our country has four major rivers. Therefore, we chose Laos as the first ASEAN country for study and discussion on electricity generation." Furthermore, she stated that the Chairman made his first visit to Laos among ASEAN countries, and the reason for this visit is that Laos has had diplomatic relations with Myanmar for over 70 years, shares a border, and has always maintained close relations, said Dr. Khine Khine Soe. "The people-to-people relations go back not just 70 years, but hundreds of years. It is a country that has always supported Myanmar. It is also a country that has had absolutely no border issues along its border. Both our countries joined ASEAN on the same day. When Laos served as the ASEAN Chair in 2024, it fully supported our country and stood firmly by our side. Throughout our diplomatic relations, it has been a good neighbor that has treated us like a true close friend. This is in terms of our political and diplomatic relations," said Dr. Daw Khine Khine Soe, spokesperson for the State Administration Council Chairman's Office. She stated that although Laos is a landlocked country among ASEAN nations, it has now become a land-linked country, and the most significant achievement of this visit was the mutual discussions held to upgrade the bilateral partnership to a strategic partnership, building trust, and enhancing friendship and partnership relations.