In response to the invitation of H.E. Saleumxay KOMMASITH, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, H.E. Enrique Austria Manalo, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, along with his delegation, paid an official visit to the Lao PDR and Co-chaired the 2^nd Meeting of Join Commission Bilateral Cooperation between the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Republic of the Philippines, which was held on 3-4 August 2023, in Vientiane, in order to work together to enhance ties and broaden cooperation between the two countries.

During the Meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay KOMMASITH and Secretary Enrique A. Manalo have discussed bilateral cooperation in areas ranging from politics to national defense, security, economic, trade and investment, energy, technology, telecommunications, public works and transport, social and cultural spheres, education, tourism, labour, agriculture and people-to-people exchange. In addition, the two ministers have also reviewed bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries over the past six years since the 1^st JCBC meeting, which took place in 2017. The two sides agreed to maintain high-level contacts and exchanges of visits, and further promote trade and investment by encouraging their companies to explore business opportunities in areas of potential. In 2022, the trade between the two countries topped US$10 million, and rose further to more than US$29 million over the first six months of this year 2023. Philippines’ companies have invested in the Lao PDR worth US$325,439, putting the country in 47th place among all foreign investors in the Lao PDR.

The two ministers have also agreed to push for the realization of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation, as well as encourage the signing of more agreements on cooperation in the fields of education, investment, national defense, agriculture and other areas. They pledged to offer mutual support in the regional and international arenas and discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.