Russia and Laos Mark 66th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations

Dragon Media Newsroom

Russia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic marked the 66th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on October 7. Relations between Moscow and Vientiane are rooted in a long-standing tradition of friendship, cooperation and mutual trust, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Russia provided assistance to Laos during its national liberation struggle and later contributed to state-building, economic development and the strengthening of the country’s defence capabilities, the ministry said.

The foundation of bilateral relations is the Treaty on the Principles of Friendly Relations, signed on March 9, 1994. In October 2011, the two countries adopted a Declaration on Strategic Partnership in the Asia-Pacific Region. Political dialogue at the highest levels takes place regularly, while parliamentary ties and exchanges between ministries and government agencies continue to expand.

Trade and economic cooperation are also growing. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, bilateral trade doubled in 2025 compared with the previous year. Military and military-technical cooperation, security and law enforcement are among the other priority areas.

The two countries are also expanding cooperation in education, culture and humanitarian exchanges. More than 10,000 Lao nationals have studied at universities in the Soviet Union and Russia. Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith studied at the Leningrad Pedagogical Institute, while Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

Russia and Laos share similar or aligned positions in international and regional forums, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The two countries cooperate in support of a multipolar world based on the UN Charter and the principle of the sovereign equality of all states. They continue to work together within ASEAN and ASEAN-centred mechanisms. Laos has also expressed its readiness to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a dialogue partner.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith at the Kremlin on May 9, 2026, when the Lao leader visited Russia to attend Victory Day celebrations. Putin said the two countries’ relations were based on friendship, mutual respect and trust, and noted their active cooperation on the international stage. On the anniversary, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their friendship and developing bilateral relations.