Bandar seri begawan: The Lao PDR and Brunei Darussalam have reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening friendly relations and strengthening their strategic partnership following the official visit of Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, and his delegation to Brunei Darussalam from October 19-22, 2025. The visit was made at the invitation of Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam.
According to Lao News Agency, the visit aimed to promote and solidify the long-standing friendship, cooperation, and strategic partnership between the two ASEAN member states. On October 20, 2025, at the Ash-Shura Guest House in Bandar Seri Begawan, Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane held a bilateral meeting with Second Minister Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof. Both sides valued the enduring friendship and cooperation between Laos and Brunei, developed through bilateral and multilateral frameworks.
During the meeting, the ministers reviewed past cooperation and explored ways to strengthen future collaboration, focusing on political relations, human resource development, economic, trade, and investment cooperation, agriculture, energy, and tourism promotion. They agreed to activate existing bilateral mechanisms, particularly the 5th Meeting of the Laos-Brunei Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), and to implement agreements promoting trade and investment in agriculture and energy. Both sides emphasized enhancing people-to-people exchanges to deepen mutual understanding and friendship.
Minister Thongsavanh expressed appreciation to Brunei for its hospitality and support for Laos’s socio-economic development, including human resource development and infrastructure projects. He thanked Brunei for supporting Laos as ASEAN chair in 2024. Minister Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof welcomed Minister Thongsavanh and expressed confidence that the visit would strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation.
Later, Minister Thongsavanh and his delegation paid a courtesy call on His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace. Minister Thongsavanh conveyed greetings and best wishes from Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, President of the Lao PDR, and commended Brunei’s progress in national development under His Majesty’s leadership.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah welcomed Minister Thongsavanh and his delegation, appreciating the longstanding friendship between the nations. His Majesty reaffirmed Brunei’s readiness to work closely with the Lao PDR to strengthen cooperation in human resource development, agriculture, energy, trade, and investment. He emphasized maintaining coordination through the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation and encouraging exchanges between the private sectors of both countries.
The visit of Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane to Brunei Darussalam underscored the strong commitment of both countries to work together for mutual prosperity, peace, stability, and development in the region.