Special Sharing Session "Laos-UK Relationship at 70: Retrospective and Progress"

To mark the milestone of the Platinum Jubilee between Laos and the UK, on October 10, 2025, the ASEAN-UK Young Leaders Initiative hosted an online special sharing session on “Laos-UK Relationship at 70: Retrospective and Progress,” with Mr Thavone Singharaj, Deputy Head of Mission at the Laos Embassy in London.

During the sharing session, Deputy Head of Mission, Mr Singharaj, began by recognising the 70th anniversary, noting that official relations were established in September 1955 and formalised after the UK played a key mediating role at the Geneva Meetings. To this day, the relationship between Laos and the UK remains at its strongest point, characterised by continued high-level engagement, including the recent Fourth Political Dialogue.

Mr Thavone Singharaj emphasised that the ASEAN-UK relationship is strategically vital for strengthening bilateral ties between Laos and the UK, and it provides a valuable platform. For a small country like Laos, engaging with the UK through the ASEAN bloc gives an equal voice in the region. Laos also gains from the UK's participation in various ASEAN mechanisms, such as ADMM, EAS, and ARF. Laos' policy of peace, independence, and cooperation is further advanced through the ASEAN-UK Dialogue Partnership, which offers an important avenue to deepen relations with the UK. However, navigating the balance between domestic considerations and the evolving priorities of the UK's Indo-Pacific strategy presents certain complexities. Nonetheless, the potential for fruitful collaboration continues to hold considerable promise.

On the economic front, Mr Singharaj highlighted that two-way trade reached $38.2 million in 2024, and keep progressing, with the UK being a significant economic partner, ranking as the 12th largest foreign investor in Laos. The primary obstacle to trade is the physical barrier, particularly considering that Laos is a landlocked country and there are no direct flights. Opportunities are present in attracting increased investment from the United Kingdom in priority sectors such as renewable energy, tourism, and value-added agriculture. Additionally, efforts are being made to leverage expertise in emerging fields including e-commerce and digital transformation. Furthermore, it was noted that the United Kingdom is supporting Laos in transitioning from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026 by extending the Developmental Country Trading Scheme (DCTS) until 2029, which serves as a vital measure to ensure continued duty-free exports and diminish trade barriers. He emphasised that Laos' main goal is to attract more UK investment and utilize UK expertise for critical knowledge and technology transfer in sectors like renewable energy, digital transformation, and ongoing humanitarian efforts such as UXO clearance.

Last but not least, he also mentioned that social development and people-to-people exchanges serve as the strongest pillar of the relationship and the "low-hanging fruit" of social cooperation. This is evidenced by the successful Chevening scholarship program, which has benefited approximately 200 Lao students, along with strong tourism links. Future efforts should also focus on expanding cultural exchanges and youth engagement, utilizing the UK’s expertise in education and sports to build a resilient and mutually beneficial foundation for the future.

The ASEAN-UK YLI would like to express our gratitude to DHM Thavone Singharaj for dedicating his valuable time to our sharing session. We also extend our thank to the representatives from youth groups such as the ASEAN Youth Advocates Network (AYAN) – Laos, ASEAN Youth Organisation – Laos, IR Students’ Group Laos, Youth Empowerment Coffee, and everyone else for participating in this sharing session.