KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — Laos has always viewed Malaysia as its closest and most valued partner ever since the two countries established diplomatic relations six decades ago, said Lao Ambassador to Malaysia Thepthavone Sengmany.
According to the ambassador, Malaysia has made significant contributions to Laos, particularly in human resource development and social and economic development.
“Over the past six decades, Laos-Malaysia relations have grown steadily on a solid foundation of mutual trust, mutual respect, and deep understanding. In my view, the greatest strength of our partnership lies in the sincerity of our friendship and our unwavering support for one another, both bilaterally and in regional forums, particularly within the ASEAN family.
“As we look ahead, there remains considerable scope to further strengthen economic cooperation so that it reflects the excellent political relations enjoyed by our two countries,” he told Bernama in an interview at his office on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Laos-Malaysia diplomatic relations.
Laos and Malaysia established diplomatic relations on July 1, 1966. Laos opened its embassy here on August 8, 1991, while Malaysia established its embassy in Vientiane on June 4, 1992.
Thepthavone said investment cooperation between the two countries continues to offer significant room for growth.
Malaysia is currently the fifth-largest foreign investor in Laos, after China, Thailand, Vietnam, and South Korea. Thepthavone expressed hope that greater opportunities would emerge in the years ahead to further promote two-way investments.
According to the ambassador, he has been working for almost two years to further enhance bilateral trade, which stood at about US$50 million last year.
He believes the current level provides a strong foundation for both countries to deepen economic cooperation and unlock new trade and investment opportunities.
Learning from Malaysia’s tourism experience
According to Thepthavone, one of the sectors that the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia is keen to learn from Malaysia is tourism.
“Last year, Malaysia recorded international visitor arrivals that exceeded its population. Laos, which is home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, wants to learn how Malaysia achieved that,” he said.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the country’s population was estimated at 34.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, while international visitor arrivals totalled 42.2 million for the year.
The ambassador said Laos welcomed 4.6 million foreign tourists in 2025, representing an 11 per cent increase compared to the previous year and surpassing the government’s initial annual target of 4.3 million international visitors.
With a population of about 8.0 million, Laos continues its efforts to further develop the tourism sector by drawing on Malaysia’s successful experience.
Lao graduates from Malaysian institutions hold senior positions in their homeland
According to Thepthavone, people-to-people ties and educational exchanges between Laos and Malaysia are deep-rooted and have produced lasting benefits for both countries. Since the early 2000s, hundreds of Lao students have been sponsored by both the Lao and Malaysian governments to study in Malaysian universities.
“Today, many of these Malaysian university graduates hold senior positions in both the public and private sectors in Laos, including serving as vice ministers and directors-general,” he said.
The ambassador said that although the Lao government’s sponsorship programme was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic due to financial constraints, Malaysia remains a highly preferred destination for Lao students because of its high-quality education system and strong reputation within ASEAN.
Currently, around 20 self-funded Lao students are studying in Malaysia, he said.
Furthermore, Thepthavone said that more than 2,000 participants from Laos have benefited from the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) through specialised workshops, practical attachments, and fully funded training programmes since the initiative began.
“The MTCP continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening Laos’ human resources and institutional capacity, and we look forward to further expanding cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, finance, and advanced manufacturing,” said the ambassador.
Exchange of high-level visits to mark 60 years of diplomatic ties
The ambassador said Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane is scheduled to pay an official visit to Malaysia next month to enhance bilateral cooperation and advance new initiatives between the two countries.
Later this year, Laos also plans to host the 4th Laos-Malaysia Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) meeting and welcome its Malaysian counterparts to Vientiane, he said.
According to Thepthavone, these high-level exchanges and institutional mechanisms will serve as important pillars in guiding Laos-Malaysia relations in the next decades.
The 60th anniversary of Laos-Malaysia diplomatic relations marks not only a celebration of past achievements but also the beginning of an even stronger and more dynamic partnership between the two nations.
