The fourth United Kingdom (UK) – Lao People's Democratic Republic
(Lao PDR) biennial Political Dialogue took place in London on 3
September 2025. The meeting was co-chaired by UK Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State for the Indo-Pacific, MP, and Lao Deputy Foreign
Minister Maythong Thammavongsa, and coincided with the 70th
anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
UK Ambassador to Lao PDR H.E Mel Barlow and Lao Ambassador to the
UK H.E Douangmany Gnotsyoudom also participated in the
discussions.
The two Ministers discussed a range of bilateral issues including
trade and investment, regional security and climate. During the
meeting, Minister West raised key consular issues, including
methanol poisoning and recent methanol poisoning cases.
The Dialogue also included exchanges on regional and
international matters of mutual concern. The Deputy Foreign
Minister welcomed the UK's continued engagement in the Mekong
sub-region, including its recent accession as a Development
Partner to the Mekong River Commission in June 2025.
In a separate meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Maythong
Thammavongsa met with MP, the UK's newly appointed
Trade Envoy to Lao PDR. They discussed opportunities to deepen
trade and investment cooperation as Lao PDR prepares to graduate
from Least Developed Country status in 2026.
The United Kingdom looks forward to continued collaboration with
Lao PDR across a broad range of shared priorities including
growing people-to-people links, which will be supported by the
newly established UK-Lao Friendship Society.
