Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith met with Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in Vientiane on July 27, 2024. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Both sides commended the 49-year relationship between Laos and the EU, with the EU’s ongoing support for Laos’s socio-economic development, sustainable development goals, and progress toward graduating from Least Developed Country status by 2026. DPM Saleumxay expressed gratitude for the EU’s assistance through the Team Europe initiative, which focuses on education, healthcare, and good governance. Borrell reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Laos in achieving sustainable development.

This visit, Borrell’s first to Laos, marks a significant step in strengthening the Laos-EU partnership. The EU delegation also met with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone to discuss further collaboration.