Laos

25 October 2025
A Katu artisan weaves textiles on a backstrap loom in Sekong Province, southeastern Laos. Traditional textile arts in the Southeast Asian country are under threat. (Courtesy of the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre)
Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 26. He is due to visit North Korea from Oct. 9.
7 October 2025
After decades of slow progress, the development of the ASEAN Power Grid, which will connect the 10 members of the bloc, is gathering momentum. (Nikkei illustration)
ASEAN Money

ASEAN's power grid dream gathers pace after decades of inertia

Decarbonization drive and industrial shift add urgency to integration

30 September 2025
A deliberately set fire burns through farmland on the Thai-Cambodia border.  Crop-burning to clear land for the next planting cycle is a major contributor to haze across the Mekong Basin. (Photo by Anton L. Delgado)
Policy Asia

Thailand's political turmoil shrouds long-awaited law to tackle smog

Bill to cut haze from crop burning and forest fires left in limbo pending new election

26 September 2025
The largest onshore wind farm in Southeast Asia has gone online in Laos, funded in part by Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. (Monsoon Wind Power Project)
Energy

Laos switches on Southeast Asia's biggest onshore wind farm

Funders include Thai state-owned energy unit and Japan's Mitsubishi Corp.

30 August 2025
Laos will cut the number of ministries and civil servants 'through various approaches,' as spending on government salaries takes up much of the national budget. (Photo by Anton L. Delgado)
Politics

Laos merges ministries in major shakeup as economy struggles

Move driven by high inflation and China debt pressure, experts say

28 July 2025
Solar panels in Jakarta, Indonesia. U.S. manufacturers accuse China-backed companies in Indonesia and Laos of dumping solar cells in the U.S. market.
Trump tariffs

US solar panel makers request tariffs on Indonesia, Laos and India

Petition accuses China-backed manufacturers of dumping cell prices

18 July 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump released the first batch of letters on July 7 informing countries of the tariff rates their exports to the U.S. will face, starting Aug. 1.
Trump tariffs

Trump imposes 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea, Malaysia

Myanmar and Laos see 40% rate, among slew of levies to take effect Aug. 1

8 July 2025
COMAC delivered a C909 regional aircraft to Lao Airlines earlier this year. (COMAC)
Business deals

COMAC's bid for Lao Airlines draws pushback over Chinese control

Aircraft manufacturer may be seeking to build track record for its planes

3 July 2025
The livestock sector is responsible for more than 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate Change

Cow burps: Australia startup's lick block helps cut Laos cattle emissions

AgCoTech earns carbon credits by reducing methane-heavy bovine belching

6 June 2025
Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith speaks to Nikkei Asia during an interview in Tokyo on May 30. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
The Future of Asia 2025

Laos president says must lure more countries to invest

Southeast Asian nation has traditionally relied on China for support

3 June 2025
Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith speaks during the Future of Asia conference in Tokyo on May 30. (Photo by Akitoshi Sugiura) 
The Future of Asia 2025

Laos calls for 'Asia solidarity' amid Trump tariffs

President Thongloun warns protectionism increases risk of armed conflict

30 May 2025
Laos depends on its abundant water resources to generate power. (Photo by Hirofumi Matsuo)
Energy

Laos electricity prices threaten push to be 'Southeast Asia's battery'

Households, businesses suffer blow with rates set to double over 2 years

23 May 2025
Many projects in Laos are financed by China, including the Laos-China Railway. Signage in Lao and Chinese is seen outside Phon Hong Railway Station in Laos in July 2022. 
Opinion

Laos risks lost decade unless China provides debt relief

Vientiane still aims for graduation from least developed country status by 2026

20 May 2025
Sky watchers are increasingly building their travel plans around spectacular viewing opportunities, such as trips to see the northern lights. (Courtesy of Booking.com)  
Destinations

Pastimes drive new passion for travel

Activity-based 'hobbidays' are Asia's latest vacation trend

27 April 2025
The Mekong River at dawn near the northern Thai town of Nong Khai. From here, intrepid travelers can drive or ride motorbikes for days along quiet roads that flank the river as it traces the border with Laos. (All photos by Ron Emmons)
Destinations

Motoring along the mighty Mekong

Climb a stairway to heaven on this 4-day riverside journey in northeast Thailand

26 April 2025
Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China delivered a C909 passenger jet to Lao Airlines on March 30. (COMAC)
Aerospace & Defense Industries

COMAC delivers China-made C909 jet to Lao Airlines

Company touts shipment to 2nd foreign carrier as 'new step' in commercial aviation

8 April 2025
A farmer works in a paddy field under the power lines near Laos's Nam Theun 2 dam in Khammouane province.
Opinion

Laos must not blow chance to become the 'Battery of Southeast Asia'

Power development plan requires effective enforceable mechanism

17 March 2025
Laodi rum has won international plaudits, thanks in part to its commitment to the "agricole" method of production, which uses pure sugarcane instead of molasses. (Photos by Kosuke Inoue)
Life

Geography, craftmanship a winning formula for Laotian rum

Bold sugarcane flavor wins international recognition, wider market for Laodi

22 February 2025
Thick smog blankets Bangkok on Jan. 25. According to one pollution index, the air in the Thai capital has been unhealthy on all but eight days this year. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Environment

Bangkok smog blights aviation, tourism and children's health

Pollution stays at unhealthy levels despite weeklong free public transport

7 February 2025
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, right, welcomes Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Jan. 21. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
International relations

Japan, Laos upgrade ties as Laotian PM visits Tokyo

Vice-minister-level dialogues to launch in both foreign affairs and defense

22 January 2025
Buddha statues discovered in the Mekong River are stored at a temple in Bokeo province, Laos. (Photo by Kosuke Inoue)
Destinations

Laos village buzzes with tourists over rumors of lost 'golden city'

Residents hope for economic boost after ancient treasures unearthed

19 January 2025
The streets of Nakhon Phanom, in northeastern Thailand, fill with tourists during the annual Lai Reua Fai (Floating a Fire Boat Festival). Across the Mekong River in Laos, the festival is known as Boun Lai Heua Fai. (All photos by Rebecca L. Root)
Tea Leaves

Mekong cross-border festivals bridge cultural and physical divides

Thai and Lao riverside towns give lessons in celebrating diversity and similarity

15 January 2025
Laos estimates it has 133.6 billion tonnes of in reserves of potassium chloride, a key fertilizer component.
Trade

Laos fertilizer exports to China boom amid Russian sanctions

Country steps up mining of potassium chloride to become 3rd-largest producer

25 December 2024
Executives pose for photos at the launch of the Laos-China QT payment project in Shanghai on Dec. 19.
Caixin

China's UnionPay expands QR code payments to Laos after Vietnam

Move is tied to Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative

24 December 2024
The flags of the 10 ASEAN member states, the group and East Timor. Thailand is hoping informal meetings it is organizing in Bangkok this week will help break the bloc's deadlock over how to engage with Myanmar and address that country's escalating crisis.
Myanmar Crisis

Thailand launches bold push to break ASEAN's Myanmar deadlock

Bangkok pursues dual track approach but diplomats wary of implications

17 December 2024
Fishermen are pictured at work on Tonle Sap lake. Cambodia's fishing communities fear for the sustainability of their livelihoods as the nation's development stokes its demand for energy. (Photo by Vutha Srey)
Big in Asia

Cambodia's giant lake shrinks as climate change, Mekong dams cut fish supply

Tonle Sap communities count cost of hydropower drive clashing with food security needs

14 December 2024
The China-Laos Railway began operations in 2021, but only opened cross-border service last year. (Photo by Shunsuke Tabeta)
Travel & Leisure

China-Laos railway sees ridership surge during October holiday

Chinese passengers laud ease, affordability of trip to Southeast Asian neighbor

26 October 2024
A monument to the Pathet Lao, the Laotian communists and their struggle against the might of the U.S. military, in front of the Lao People’s Army History Museum in Vientiane. (Photo by Tom Vater)
Tea Leaves

Paradox of Laos shows how the past can haunt a place

U.S. 'secret war' has left the country struggling to escape its isolationist past

23 October 2024
More Laotians are converting cash into gold in response to the weakening kip. (Photo by Kosuke Inoue)
Economy

Laos pins hopes on gold trading as economy falters

Government sets up bullion bank to shore up currency reserves

22 October 2024