Chinese Foreign Minister engages in a meeting with the Lao Foreign Minister

China and Lao PDR Strengthen Cooperation at Lancang-Mekong Meeting

The tenth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting concluded on August 14, 2025, in Anning, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The meeting was attended by foreign ministers from China, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

During the meeting, China pledged to provide additional funding for infrastructure projects in the region, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. The head of state of the Lao PDR, Thongloun Sisoulith, who serves as both the President and General Secretary of the People's Revolutionary Party of Laos, expressed his gratitude for China's continued support and cooperation in various sectors.

The meeting discussed various issues, including economic integration, infrastructure development, and environmental protection. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, Thongsavanh Phomvihane, to discuss these matters in detail.

The conclusion of the meeting was marked by a joint communique, outlining the decisions and agreements reached. The communique emphasized the commitment of the member countries to promote regional cooperation and development. Observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) were present to witness the meeting.

Following the meeting, a press conference was held, where the foreign ministers addressed the media and answered questions. The next LMC Foreign Ministers' Meeting was tentatively scheduled for 2026, with the host country yet to be decided.

The meeting was photographed by Xinhua/Gao Yongwei. The location of the meeting, Anning, was chosen to symbolise the strong ties between China and the other LMC member countries. The meeting marked a significant step forward in the cooperation between China and the Lao PDR, and the broader LMC region.