On 16 March 2023, H.E Sonexay VANNAXAY, Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) paid a courtesy call on Her Excellency Theresa P. Lazaro, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, who is in charge of Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs.

During the call, Ambassador Sonexay VANNAXAY highlighted the good relation of the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic tie for over 6 decades and strengthening cooperation between the two countries across a broad range of areas, including trade and investments, education and technical and capacity-building cooperation. Ambassador Sonexay also informed that the Lao PDR to host the 2^nd Meeting of the Joint Commission of Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) between the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Republic of the Philippines in Vientiane, 2023. The JCBC is the chief Ministerial-level bilateral dialogue mechanism for reviewing all aspects of the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Undersecretary Lazaro reaffirmed the long-standing friendship between the Republic of the Philippines and the Lao PDR, and expressed confidence in the country’s upcoming Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024. Undersecretary Lazaro also said that the Philippines is looking forward to the 2nd meeting of the Philippines-Lao PDR Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Vientiane this year. Moreover, the Undersecretary assured the Ambassador of the Philippines’ continuing assistance to Lao human resources development, including the training of young diplomats.

Both sides also discussed the anticipated celebration in 2025 of the 70^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Lao PDR, which were established on 14 January 1955.