Editing Foreign relations of Laos (section)

==Bilateral relations==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
|-
! style="width:15%;"| Country
! style="width:12%;"| Formal Relations Began
!Notes
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Brunei}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|Brunei–Laos relations}}

* Brunei has an embassy in Vientiane.
* Laos has an embassy in [[Bandar Seri Begawan]].
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Cambodia}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|Cambodia–Laos relations}}

* Cambodia has an embassy in Vientiane and a consulate-general in [[Pakse]].
* Laos has an embassy in [[Phnom Penh]] and a consulate-general in [[Stung Treng City]].
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|China}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|China–Laos relations}}

Relations with the People's Republic of China have improved over the years. Although the two were allies during the [[Vietnam War]], the [[Sino-Vietnamese War]] in 1979 led to a sharp deterioration in Sino-Lao relations. These relations began to improve in the late 1980s. In 1989 Sino-Lao relations were normalized. In 2017 China invested in Laos under its [[Belt and Road Initiative]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-05/12/c_136277569.htm|title=Belt and Road Initiative provides new impetus for China-Laos economic cooperation - Xinhua &#124; English.news.cn}}</ref>
* China has an embassy in Vientiane and a consulate-general in [[Luang Prabang]].
* Laos has an embassy in [[Beijing]] and consulates-general in [[Changsha]], [[Guangzhou]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Kunming]], [[Nanning]] and [[Shanghai]].
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|France}}||<!--Date started-->||

Following its occupation of Vietnam, France absorbed Laos into [[French Indochina]] via treaties with Siam in 1893 and 1904. During World War II, the Japanese occupied French Indochina. When Japan surrendered, Lao nationalists declared Laos independent, but by early 1946, French troops had reoccupied the country and conferred limited autonomy on Laos. During the [[Indochina War|First Indochina War]], the [[Indochinese Communist Party]] formed the [[Pathet Lao]] resistance organization committed to Lao independence. Laos gained full independence following the French defeat by the Vietnamese communists and the subsequent [[Geneva Conference (1954)|Geneva peace conference]] in 1954.

* France has an embassy in Vientiane.
* Laos has an embassy in [[Paris]].
|-
|{{GER}}
|<!--Date started-->
|{{main article|Germany–Laos relations}}

* Germany has an embassy in Vientiane.
* Laos has an embassy in [[Berlin]].
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|India}}
|<!--Date started-->|
|{{main article|India—Laos relations}}

* India has an embassy in Vientiane.
* Laos has an embassy in [[New Delhi]].
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Indonesia}}||<!--Date started-->1957||{{Main article|Indonesia–Laos relations}}

Since established diplomatic relations on 1957, both nations enjoys cordial relations. Indonesia supported and welcomed Laos membership to the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN) in 1997. Laos and Indonesia agreed to enhance relations to focus on exploring the potential of both nations to cooperate on trade and investment. The two nations expressed a desire to reach further agreements relating to security, tourism, sport, air transport and education.<ref name="Laos">{{cite web
 |url        =http://www.laopdr.gov.la/ePortal/news/detail.action?id=27063&from=ePortal_NewsDetail_FromHome
 |archive-url =http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20110804160451/http://laopdr.gov.la/ePortal/news/detail.action?id=27063&from=ePortal_NewsDetail_FromHome
 |url-status   =dead
 |archive-date =4 August 2011
 |title      =Laos, Indonesia to focus relations on trade and investment 
 |date       =20 January 2011<!-- 08:00
 -->|work    =laopdr.gov.la
 |publisher  =National Portal of Laos PDR
 |access-date =30 May 2013
}}</ref> Indonesia through bilateral cooperation assist Laos on capacity building and development in various sectors, through scholarships, and trainings for Laos students.<ref name="KBRI2">{{cite web|url=http://kbrivientiane.org/article.php?id=110&lang=en |title=Current Socio Culture Relations |work=Embassy of Republic of Indonesia, Vientiane, Laos |publisher=Embassy of Indonesia |access-date=30 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923071816/http://kbrivientiane.org/article.php?id=110&lang=en |archive-date=23 September 2013 }}</ref>
* Indonesia has an embassy in Vientiane.
* Laos has an embassy in [[Jakarta]].
|-
|{{flag|Israel}}
|
|{{See also|List of ambassadors of Israel to Laos}}
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Japan}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|Japan–Laos relations}}

* Japan has an embassy in Vientiane.
* Laos has an embassy in [[Tokyo]].
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Malaysia}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|Laos–Malaysia relations}}

During the collapse of the Communist Bloc, the [[Soviet Union]] could no longer afford aid for the development of Laos.<ref name="Stuart-Fox1997">{{cite book|author=Martin Stuart-Fox|title=A History of Laos|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8VvvevRkX-EC&pg=PA200|date=28 September 1997|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-59746-3|page=200}}</ref> This made Laos seek aid from other countries to help develop their country and has led the country to adopt a neutral foreign policy.<ref name="Stuart-Fox1997"/> When this policy of neutrality was adopted, relations with Malaysia were established.<ref name="Stuart-Fox1997"/>
* Laos has an embassy in [[Kuala Lumpur]].
* Malaysia has an embassy in Vientiane.
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Mexico}}||<!--Date started-->1976||

* Laos is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.laoembassy.com/ |title=Embassy of Laos in the United States |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-date=25 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125195458/https://laoembassy.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.senado.gob.mx/comisiones/relext_ap/docs/nombramiento_JVNS.pdf |title=Relations between Mexico and Thailand and Laos (in Spanish) |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713032625/http://www.senado.gob.mx/comisiones/relext_ap/docs/nombramiento_JVNS.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Mexico is accredited to Laos from its embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/tailandia/ |title=Embassy of Mexico in Thailand |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125141038/https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/tailandia/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Myanmar}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|Laos–Myanmar relations}}

* Laos has an embassy in [[Yangon]].
* Myanmar has an embassy in Vientiane.
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Pakistan}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|Laos–Pakistan relations}}

* Pakistan is accredited to Laos from its embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Philippines}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|Laos–Philippines relations}}
Formal relations between Laos and the Philippines were officially established on 14 January 1955. Relations between the two countries were said to have started during the early period of the Vietnam War. Operation Brotherhood, a joint international venture by Jaycees International, sent 50 volunteer Filipino doctors, agriculturists, and nutritionists to Laos and Vietnam from 1957 to 1964. Laos has an embassy in Manila while the Philippines has an embassy in Vientiane.

Lao Prime Ministers Bounnhang Vorachith, Bouasone Bouphavanh and Thongsing Thammavong made their state visit to the Philippines in 2002, June 2007 and May 2012 respectively. Philippine Presidents [[Fidel V. Ramos]] visited Laos in October 1997. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited Laos in November 2004 for the ASEAN summit and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III visited Laos in November 2012 for the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit.

There are about 730 Filipinos in Laos as of 2013, mostly working as professionals as teachers, nurses, engineers, hotel employees and consultants. Filipinos are often offered lower fares on riding tuktuks compared to other foreigners. Filipinos are one of the biggest contributors to Laos' English programs due to the English fluency possessed by most Filipinos.
* Laos has an embassy in [[Manila]].
* Philippines has an embassy in Vientiane.
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Russia}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|Laos–Russia relations}}

* Laos has an [[Embassy of Laos in Moscow|embassy in Moscow]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Laos in Russia |url=https://diplomaticmonitor.org/c2c/LA-RU |access-date=}} Diplomatic Monitor</ref>
* Russia has an embassy in Vientiane.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laos.mid.ru/|title=Главная - Министерство иностранных дел Российской Федерации|access-date=21 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221194931/http://laos.mid.ru//|archive-date=21 February 2015}}</ref>

|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Serbia}}||<!--Date started-->1962||
Both countries have established diplomatic relations in 1962.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/foreign-policy/bilateral-issues/96-bilateral-issues/12308-laos |title=Laos |access-date=31 December 2016 |archive-date=1 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101003533/http://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/foreign-policy/bilateral-issues/96-bilateral-issues/12308-laos |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* Serbia is accredited to Laos from its embassy in Yangon, Myanmar.
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|South Korea}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|Laos–South Korea relations}}

* Ko-Laoholdings is [[South Korea]]n company in Laos which is currently the largest private enterprise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kolaoholdings.com/|title=::: KOLAO Holdings - Opportunity & Beyond :::|access-date=21 February 2015|archive-date=28 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328135239/http://www.kolaoholdings.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Establishment of Diplomatic Relations : Jun.22, 1974 / Severance - Jul.24, 1975 / Reestablishment - Oct.25, 1995.<ref name="mofa.gov.kr" />
* Laos has an embassy in [[Seoul]].
* South Korea has an embassy in Vientiane.
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Thailand}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|Laos–Thailand relations}}

Thai-Lao relations were strained somewhat in 2006 ahead of the release of the sports comedy ''[[Lucky Loser (2006 film)|Lucky Loser]]'', which Lao diplomats warned might offend [[Lao people]] and spark disturbances similar to the [[2003 Phnom Penh riots]]. The film's release was cancelled.

Thailand is Laos' principal means of access to the sea and its primary trading partner. Despite strong economic and cultural ties with Thailand, parts of the border shared by the two countries are indefinite. Within a year of serious border clashes in 1987, Lao and Thai leaders signed a communiqué, signaling their intention to improve relations. Since then, they have made slow but steady progress, notably the construction and opening of the Friendship Bridge between the two countries.
* Laos has an embassy in [[Bangkok]] and a consulate-general in [[Khon Kaen]].
* Thailand has an embassy in Vientiane and a consulate-general in [[Savannakhet]].
|- valign="top"

|{{flag|Turkey}}||<!--Date started-->1958<ref name="auto139">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.tr/relations-between-turkey-and-laos.en.mfa|title=Relations between Turkey and Laos|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs|access-date=6 October 2020|archive-date=30 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230231111/http://www.mfa.gov.tr/relations-between-turkey-and-laos.en.mfa|url-status=live}}</ref>||See [[Laos–Turkey relations]]
*The Embassy of [[Laos]] in [[Vienna]] is accredited to Turkey.<ref name="auto139"/>
* Turkey has an embassy in [[Vientiane]].<ref name="auto139"/>
*Trade volume between the two countries was US$2.86 billion in 2018 (Laos' exports/imports: 1.48/1.44 billion USD).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkey_laos-bilateral-economic-and-commercial-relations.en.mfa|title=Turkey-Laos Bilateral Economic and Commercial Relations|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs|access-date=6 October 2020|archive-date=16 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716150831/http://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkey_laos-bilateral-economic-and-commercial-relations.en.mfa|url-status=live}}</ref>
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|United Kingdom}}||{{Date table sorting|1955}}||See [[Foreign relations of the United Kingdom]]
Laos established [[Foreign relations of the United Kingdom|diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom]] on 5 September 1955.<ref name="laos">{{Cite web |title=Competition to mark 60 years of UK-Laos diplomatic relations|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/competition-to-mark-60-years-of-uk-laos-diplomatic-relations|date=16 February 2015|website=[[gov.uk|GOV.UK]]|access-date=5 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723184811/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/competition-to-mark-60-years-of-uk-laos-diplomatic-relations|archive-date=23 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Laos maintains an [[Embassy of Laos, London|embassy]] in [[London]].<ref name="laos"/>
*The UK is accredited to Laos through its embassy in Vientiane.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-vientiane|title=British Embassy Vientiane|work=GOV.UK|access-date=5 May 2024|archive-date=3 May 2024|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240503160021/https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-vientiane|url-status=live}}</ref> 
Both countries share common membership of the [[World Trade Organization]].
|- valign="top"

|{{flag|United States}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|Laos–United States relations}}

Laos-United States relations officially began when the United States opened a legation in Laos in 1950, when Laos was a semi-autonomous state within [[French Indochina]]. These relations were maintained after Laotian independence in 1954.

Between 1964-1973, the United States began bombing Laos in an effort to remove the [[Pathet Lao]] from power, despite the fact Laos had been neutral during the [[Vietnam War]]. This bombing led to Laos becoming the most bombed country on earth;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laos {{!}} MAG |url=https://www.maginternational.org/laos-enews/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=www.maginternational.org |language=en-gb |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308023821/https://www.maginternational.org/laos-enews/ |url-status=live }}</ref> hence why there have been large efforts to remove unexploded mines and bombs from the country.

The U.S. government provided more than $13.4 million in foreign assistance to Laos in FY 2006, in areas including unexploded ordnance clearance and removal, health and [[avian influenza]], education, economic development, and governance.

In December 2004, [[George W. Bush]] signed into law a bill extending normal trade relations to Laos. In February 2005, a [[bilateral trade agreement]] (BTA) between the two countries entered into force. There has been a consequent rise in Lao exports to the United States, although the volume of trade remains small in absolute terms. Bilateral trade reached $15.7 million in 2006, compared with $8.9 million in 2003. The Lao Government is working to implement the provisions of the BTA and on 2 February 2013 joined the [[World Trade Organization]].
* Laos has an embassy in [[Washington, D.C.]]
* United States has an embassy in [[Vientiane]].

|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Vietnam}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main article|Laos–Vietnam relations}}

Although Vietnam's historical record of leadership over the Pathet Lao during the [[Laotian Civil War|civil war]] and its military power and proximity will not cease to exist, Laos struck out ahead of Vietnam with its New Economic Mechanism to introduce market mechanisms into its economy. In so doing, Laos has opened the door to rapprochement with Thailand and China at some expense to its special dependence on Vietnam.<ref name="cs">Brown, MacAlister and Joseph J. Zasloff. "Relations with Vietnam". [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/latoc.html ''Laos: a country study''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721090309/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/latoc.html |date=21 July 2015 }} (Andrea Matles Savada, editor). [[Library of Congress]] [[Federal Research Division]] (July 1994). ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [[public domain]].''</ref>

Laos might have reached the same point of normalization in following Vietnam's economic and diplomatic change, but by moving ahead resolutely and responding to Thai and Chinese gestures, Laos has broadened its range of donors, trading partners, and investors independent of Vietnam's attempts to accomplish the same goal. Thus, Vietnam remains in the shadows as a mentor and emergency ally, and the tutelage of Laos has shifted dramatically to development banks and international entrepreneurs.<ref name="cs"/>
* Laos has an embassy in [[Hanoi]] and consulates-general in [[Da Nang]] and [[Ho Chi Minh City]].
* Vietnam has an embassy in Vientiane and consulates-general in [[Luang Prabang]], [[Pakse]] and [[Savannakhet]].
|}