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Headlines:
Anniversary Party Looks Back, Looks Ahead
Vietnam Friendship Finds Cohesion
Infrastructure: Rails, a Bridge, and a Hospital
Economic Recovery Looks Promising
China Prioritizes Neighborhood Diplomacy
Healthcare Cooperation
Solar Panel Tariff Investigation
Anniversary Party Looks Back, Looks Ahead
The nation celebrated its 50th anniversary on December 2 with a parade and all the other fixings appropriate for such an event broadcast nationwide and around the world. Secretary General Thongloun Sisoulith was at the center of the festivities and retold the tale of the 1975 revolutionary victory and the nation’s development over the half-century since before reconfirming the country’s hope to reach upper-middle-income status by 2055. He was also keen to mention how socialist principles and national unity would remain priorities. The event brought together dignitaries from Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Russia, and Cuba, among others.
Read more: Asian News Network (Celebration), Laotian Times (LDC Graduation)
Vietnam Friendship Finds Cohesion
Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam wrapped up a state visit where both nations agreed to that they wanted to continue their bilateral relations with “great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic cohesion.” The visit resulted in 12 agreements in defense/ security, health, education, and infrastructure. Trade between the two nations is so far up 50% beyond last year’s figures, and Vietnam now has 267 active projects in the country valued at more than USD 5 and a half billion. Vietnam said that it will create 1,300 scholarships for Lao students and officials and plans to increase the amount of grant aid two and a half times over the coming five years.
Read more: VietnamPlus (Diplomatic Elevation), Vietnam News (Government Cooperation), Laotian Times (Trade Targets), Nhan Dan (Leadership Meeting), Nhan Dan (Police Cooperation)
Infrastructure: Rails, a Bridge, and a Hospital
Lao National Railways started freight operation between Thanaleng Station and Nong Khai Station, Thailand, on December 2, using its own rolling stock for the first time. The service operates one round-trip daily with a capacity of 25 containers per trip. Construction on the Laos-Vietnam Railway connecting Vientiane with Ha Tinh province is scheduled to start next year, and completion is planned by 2030. It’s a USD 6.6 billion project, which will link the Lao capital to Vung Ang seaport. The 5th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connecting Bueng Kan (Thailand) and Bolikhamxay (Laos) provinces will open on Christmas Day; Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith both plan to be there. The Lao-Vietnam Friendship Hospital in Houaphanh province, a 200-bed facility funded entirely by Vietnam at a cost of about $19M was also opened this week.
Read more: Laotian Times (Rail Service), The Star (Railway Project), Laotian Times (Bridge Launch), VietnamPlus (Hospital Opening)
Economic Recovery Looks Promising
Moody’s upgraded the government’s local and foreign currency issuer ratings to Caa2 from Caa3 on December 3, 2025, keeping a stable outlook. The upgrade is a result of improved access to international markets. Inflation eased to 4% year-on-year in October, down from a brutal high of more than 20%. Foreign exchange reserves are up, and stood at USD 2.7 billion in July. They’re expected to grow to USD 3 billion next year. Public debt is on the downtrend. It stood at 112% of GDP in 2022, was 94% in 2024, and is expected to fall below 80% by 2028.
Read more: Investing.com (Moody’s Upgrade), The Diplomat (Crisis Analysis)
China Prioritizes Neighborhood Diplomacy
President Xi Jinping congratulated the country on its 50th anniversary and took the opportunity to remind everyone that China intends to stay active in neighborhood diplomacy. China is Lao’s biggest source of foreign investment, and more than 80% of agricultural exports headed their way. The China-Laos Railway, inaugurated in 2021 under the Belt and Road plan, has facilitated more than 62 million passenger trips and more than 72 million tons of cargo, supporting growth, reducing costs, and improving connectivity.
Read more: Capital FM (China Relations), The Star (Strategic Partnership)
Healthcare Cooperation
Vietnam’s Ministry of Health says that it trains about 400 Lao students annually in Vietnam. Vietnam also treats many Lao patients each year, with projects like Xiangkhouang and (the previously mentioned) Houaphanh hospitals. Japan set aside about $18M to upgrade referral hospitals in Champasak, Salavan, Sekong, and Attapeu, with renovations, updated medical equipment, training, and patient safety measures. South Korea started a partnership in late November that is expected to expand rehabilitation options, sending mobile units to remote (northern) provinces as part of a $600,000 service agreement.
Read more: Vietnam News (Vietnam Cooperation), Laotian Times (Japan Funding), Laotian Times (South Korea Partnership)
Solar Panel Tariff Investigation
The U.S. International Trade Commission opened an antidumping/countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigation on solar panel imports from India, Indonesia, and Laos over allegations of unfair trade. American panel manufacturers said that firms relocated to avoid tariffs that had already been placed on imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Preliminary antidumping amounts are expected to be announced late this month. Laos averaged an output of 64 MW cells and 101 MW panels monthly in 2024, but the number jumped to 729 MW by July the following year. Identified dumping margins for Laos are reportedly as high as almost 250%.
Read more: Solar Power World (Investigation Update), Energy Jobline (Import Data)
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading.
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