Vladivostok: Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, led a delegation of government and business representatives to the 10th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) held from September 3-6, 2025, in Vladivostok, Russia, under the theme ‘Far East: Cooperation for Peace and Prosperity.’
According to Lao News Agency, the forum aimed to enhance cooperation, trade, and investment between Russia and its partners, focusing on the Far East, East Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region. The invitation extended by Russian President Vladimir Putin saw the Lao Prime Minister attend as an honored guest, where he delivered a speech and participated in a plenary session alongside President Putin and high-level representatives from Mongolia and China.
In his address, Mr. Sonexay discussed global and regional challenges impacting the world economy and advocated for closer cooperation through consultation and multilateral mechanisms based on mutual respect and adherence to international law. He emphasi
zed Russia’s significant role in international affairs and highlighted the importance of multilateral cooperation in maintaining peace, stability, security, and advancing shared prosperity.
The Prime Minister reflected on the enduring partnership between Laos and Russia, noting the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025. He outlined Laos’s policy of regional connectivity, which aims to transform the country from landlocked to land-linked, marking steady progress in this endeavor.
Established in 2015, the Eastern Economic Forum has evolved into a pivotal platform for promoting trade, investment, and economic cooperation at regional and global levels. Each year, it gathers policymakers from both public and private sectors to exchange development visions and address emerging economic challenges.
During the forum, Prime Minister Sonexay held a courtesy meeting with President Vladimir Putin to advance bilateral relations. He also chaired the Lao PDR-Russia Business Forum to encourage expanded economic
cooperation, engaged with Russian media to promote Laos’s trade and investment policies, and received courtesy visits from Mr. Ivan Polyakov, Chairman of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council, as well as Lao students studying in Vladivostok.
Laos’s active participation in the 10th Eastern Economic Forum was acknowledged as a success, contributing to the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral relations and opening new avenues for future cooperation.
