Laos and Cambodia Reaffirm Cooperation on UXO Clearance and Victim Assistance

Laos and Cambodia reaffirmed their cooperation on unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance and victim assistance during a meeting between their deputy prime ministers and foreign ministers in Vientiane on September 13, 2026. The meeting preceded the 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), which Laos will host and preside over from September 14–18. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane met with Mr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), who is leading the Cambodian delegation to the conference. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to the humanitarian objectives and principles of addressing UXO, an issue that has affected both countries as a result of the Indochina War. They highlighted the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation to make international efforts on UXO clearance and victim assistance more effective and practical, particularly for affected communities. Deputy Prime Minister Thongsavanh expressed appreciation for Cambodia’s participation and support for the conference. Both sides expressed confidence that the 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions would achieve positive outcomes and further strengthen international cooperation on addressing the humanitarian consequences of cluster munitions. More than 270 delegates from over 120 countries and international organizations visited a UXO clearance site in Luang Prabang Province on September 13, 2026, ahead of the conference. This underscores the ongoing challenge of UXO contamination in Laos, a legacy of past conflicts that continues to impact development and public safety. Laos, under its one-party system, pursues development with strong ties to Vietnam and historically the Soviet Union, while increasingly deepening economic cooperation with China and Thailand. The UXO issue, however, remains a significant social challenge, hindering economic development and infrastructure projects, and directly impacting the lives and safety of its citizens, necessitating continued international support.