Second Singapore-Lao PDR Bilateral Consultations, 21 July 2026
Laos
21 July 2026
Second Singapore-Lao PDR Bilateral Consultations, 21 July 2026
Second Permanent Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Foo Chi Hsia and Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) Anouparb Vongnorkeo co-chaired the 2nd Singapore–Lao PDR Bilateral Consultations (SLBC) in Singapore on 21 July 2026.
Deputy Minister Anouparb first called on the Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs Sim Ann. They reaffirmed the warm and longstanding bilateral relations, and the regular high-level exchanges between both countries. Lao People’s Revolutionary Party General Secretary and President of Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith has accepted President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s invitation to make a State Visit to Singapore at a mutually convenient time. Senior Minister of State Sim noted that Singapore’s import of renewable energy through the Lao PDR–Thailand–Malaysia–Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS–PIP) serves as a pathfinder towards realising an ASEAN Power Grid, which would strengthen energy resilience in ASEAN, promote economic growth, and facilitate the region’s efforts in decarbonisation. Both sides affirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in growth areas such as the green economy, while supporting ASEAN initiatives that advance sustainable development across the region.
Second Permanent Secretary Foo and Deputy Minister Anouparb affirmed the strength of the people-to-people relations and reviewed the good collaboration across the education, culture, and health sectors. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to human capital development. They also discussed the good progress in trade and investment, cooperation in the areas of green energy and sustainability, and combatting transnational crime, both bilaterally and in ASEAN, and exchanged views on regional and global developments.
Amid an increasingly challenging geopolitical and economic environment, the co-chairs noted the importance for both countries, as small states, to work closely to uphold ASEAN Centrality, maintain an open and inclusive regional architecture, and deepen regional economic integration. Ahead of Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027, they discussed ways for Singapore and Lao PDR to work together to advance cooperation within ASEAN and with our external partners, especially in the growth areas of the digital and green economies.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
21 JULY 2026
