Laos formally given status of SCO dialogue partner

MINSK. July 10 (Interfax) - Laos has officially been granted dialogue partner status with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the SCO press service said on Friday.

"A ceremony was held at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretariat in Beijing to sign the Memorandum on granting the Lao People's Democratic Republic the status of SCO Dialogue Partner," the press service said.

SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev and Laotian Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane signed the memorandum on behalf of the sides. The memorandum envisages SCO-Laos cooperation in providing security and stability, economic affairs, law, infrastructure, culture, innovations and other areas upon mutual agreement.

Yermekbayev said at a bilateral meeting before signing the memorandum he was confident that Laos would be actively involved in implementing the diverse SCO agenda and described current SCO affairs and preparations for the upcoming Bishkek summit.

"Lao Foreign Minister highly appreciated the role of the SCO on the international stage and emphasized that his country attaches great importance to cooperation within the framework of the Organization. A productive exchange of views took place on upcoming joint steps aimed at implementing the Memorandum. The parties also touched upon the topic of cooperation between the SCO and ASEAN," the statement said.

The decision to grant dialogue partner status to Laos was made at the SCO summit on September 1, 2025.