On 10 June 2023, H.E. Sonexay VANNAXAY, Ambassador of the Lao PDR to the Republic of the Philippines attended the launching of the New Curricular Program of the School of Environment Science and Management of the University of the Philippines Los Banos at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).   

At the launching event, H.E. Sonexay VANNAXAY had delivered a remark by expressing congratulation and best wishes to the University of the Philippines Los Banos as well as the School of Environmental Science and Management that can organize and serve the Curricular Program in PhD in Environmental Diplomacy and Negotiations (PhD EDN) to the Society. Moreover, H.E. Sonexay VANNAXAY also highlighted the importance of the Curricular Program by pointed out that Diplomacy and Negotiation processes are vital instrument in international relations between countries and in international organizations as well as in cases of peace, security, society, Business and other matters in the world.

Meanwhile, H.E. Sonexay VANNAXAY also expressed sincerely appreciation to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the University of the Philippines Los Banos for its significant contribution to the Human Resources Development of the Lao PDR.

“Lao PDR is of the view that Philippines has enormous experience in human resource development, especially higher education and technical education. The Lao Government have been encouraging the Lao students to come and study in the Philippines. At present, many Lao students is studying in the Philippines and there are 5 Lao students studying in PhD degree in a various field in the University of the Philippines Los Banos,” he added.

On 29 March 2023, H.E Sonexay VANNAXAY, Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the Republic of the Philippines paid a courtesy call on H.E Carlito G. Galvez Jr., Senior Undersecretary and Officer-in-Charge of Department of National Defense.

During the call, Ambassador Sonexay VANNAXAY and Senior Undersecretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. highlighted that since the establishment of diplomatic tie, the cooperation in the field of defense has been promoted and good maintained, and has created mutual trust and confidence. At the same time, the two countries have also opened their defense Attaché office in each country's embassies (Lao PDR and Philippines).

Furthermore, the both sides also underscored the significance of maintaining ASEAN centrality in the process of cooperation between ASEAN and Dialogues partners as ADMM, ADMM Plus amid the prevailing strategic competition and regional security challenges.

On 16 March 2023, H.E Sonexay VANNAXAY, Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) paid a courtesy call on Her Excellency Theresa P. Lazaro, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, who is in charge of Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs.

During the call, Ambassador Sonexay VANNAXAY highlighted the good relation of the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic tie for over 6 decades and strengthening cooperation between the two countries across a broad range of areas, including trade and investments, education and technical and capacity-building cooperation. Ambassador Sonexay also informed that the Lao PDR to host the 2^nd Meeting of the Joint Commission of Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) between the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Republic of the Philippines in Vientiane, 2023. The JCBC is the chief Ministerial-level bilateral dialogue mechanism for reviewing all aspects of the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Undersecretary Lazaro reaffirmed the long-standing friendship between the Republic of the Philippines and the Lao PDR, and expressed confidence in the country’s upcoming Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024. Undersecretary Lazaro also said that the Philippines is looking forward to the 2nd meeting of the Philippines-Lao PDR Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Vientiane this year. Moreover, the Undersecretary assured the Ambassador of the Philippines’ continuing assistance to Lao human resources development, including the training of young diplomats.

Both sides also discussed the anticipated celebration in 2025 of the 70^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Lao PDR, which were established on 14 January 1955.