Lao Foreign Minister to Attend 81st UN General Assembly Session

Lao PDR will send a high-level delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, to attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and related side meetings in New York, United States, from September 21 to 26, 2026. The delegation will participate in the General Assembly session and related meetings to exchange views on key international and regional issues and promote cooperation with the international community. This participation follows Laos' successful tenure as President of the 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (3RC-CCM), held in Vientiane from September 14–18, 2026. The conference, under the theme "Accelerating Progress Towards a World Free from the Threat of Cluster Munitions," gathered over 500 delegates from 91 countries, including 74 States Parties, 17 observer States, and 27 international organizations. On the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane received a courtesy call from Ms. Katharina Wieser, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austria to the Lao PDR, on September 18. Furthermore, Laos is actively strengthening its regional ties. On September 16, 2026, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith held talks with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, to discuss the implementation of high-level agreements and further strengthen Laos-China cooperation. Provincial Party Secretary and People’s Council Chairman Bountheung Douangsavanh also met with a high-level delegation from Da Nang City, Vietnam, led by Deputy Secretary and People’s Council Chairman Nguyen Duc Dung, to reaffirm bilateral cooperation and cross-border solidarity. Additionally, Laos and the Republic of Korea have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in public works and transport, with a focus on modern technology, infrastructure development, and sustainable transport systems. These diplomatic engagements underscore Laos' efforts to enhance its international profile, deepen its engagement on global and regional issues, and explore avenues for international cooperation towards economic development and infrastructure advancement. While presiding over the Convention on Cluster Munitions highlights its commitment to international norms, balancing this with the nation's development imperatives remains a key consideration.