Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono said the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Laos was an opportunity to strengthen the partnership.

JAKARTA - The 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Indonesia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic is an opportunity to strengthen the partnership between the two countries.

This was said by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Sugiono, when receiving a working visit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos, Thongsavan Phomvihane, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, Sanin (4/5).

In his statement, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the meeting of the two main diplomats of each country was focused on strengthening the Indonesia-Laos partnership, especially ahead of the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2027.

"This momentum must be used to strengthen the partnership between the two countries in the fields of politics, economy, and people-to-people contact," said Foreign Minister Sugiono, launching the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On this occasion, Indonesia and Laos emphasized the importance of reactivating the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) as the main platform to encourage the implementation of more concrete cooperation between the two countries.

In the field of politics and security, both countries highlighted the prevalence of cross-border crimes such as online fraud and human trafficking (TPPO) which also involved Indonesian citizens. The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized the importance of effective implementation of existing cooperation frameworks to maintain security stability in the region.

The two ministers discussed efforts to increase trade, investment, connectivity, and tourism as drivers of the economy. Indonesia encourages the strengthening of strategic cooperation in the potash sector as a fertilizer raw material, which has the potential to become one of the flagship projects in supporting national and regional food security. At the same time, Indonesia also supports Laos' efforts in strengthening sustainable and inclusive economic development.

In addition, the two foreign ministers agreed that cooperation between people should be strengthened through education and youth exchange as well as culture, and emphasized that common values and cultural heritage are important capital to further strengthen relations between people.

In discussing regional and global issues, both ministers emphasized the importance of maintaining ASEAN unity and centrality in the midst of geopolitical dynamics. Both emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation among ASEAN countries and prioritize the values of dialogue, mutual respect, and trust to maintain peace and stability in the region.

This visit is the first visit by the Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos to a country in the Southeast Asian region, since the formation of the new government of Laos in March. This meeting reflects Indonesia's active efforts to strengthen cooperation with neighboring countries, as well as affirming Indonesia's role as a strategic partner of Laos in the region.