Labuan Bajo, Indonesia
May 10, 2023

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) on the sidelines of the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the Meruorah Convention Center in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia.

Early in December 2022, upon receiving the credentials of Lao PDR Ambassador to the Philippines Sonexay Vannaxay, President Marcos Jr. expressed his desire to forge stronger bilateral relations with Lao PDR on various areas, particularly on agriculture, trade and people-to-people exchanges. Likewise, the envoy sought the Philippines’ assistance in the health sector.

The Philippines and Lao PDR formalized bilateral relations in 1955. As members of ASEAN, the two countries have since strengthened their bilateral cooperation on trade and investments.

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