Press Releases
Japan-Laos Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
May 22, 2026
On May 22, commencing at 3:10 p.m. for approximately 35 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a Foreign Ministers’ meeting with H.E. Mr. Thongsavan PHOMVIHANE, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos.
- At the outset, Minister MOTEGI welcomed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavan on his visit to Japan. He expressed his intention to further strengthen the "Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership" between the two countries and to cooperate toward the realization of the updated "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)."
- Minister MOTEGI stated that Japan intends to promote cooperation across a wide range of fields, including security and economy, in order to strengthen the "autonomy" and "resilience" of Laos. In response, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavan expressed his support for “Partnership On Wide Energy and Resources Resilience (POWERR Asia),” recently launched by Prime Minister TAKAICHI, and his gratitude for Japan’s continuous assistance to the socio-economic development of Laos. The Foreign Ministers concurred on promoting cooperation to strengthen the resilience of supply chains, including critical minerals and energy.
- The Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the Middle East, as well as regional challenges, including the East and South China Seas, Myanmar, and responding to North Korea including the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue. They reaffirmed that they would continue to coordinate closely in this regard.