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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos pitches creation of direct flights between Manila, Vientiane

Marcos pitches creation of direct flights between Manila, Vientiane

Published May 27, 2025 10:07 am
President Marcos has raised the possibility of establishing direct flights between Manila and Vientiane, Laos' capital and largest city.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic during a bilateral meeting held as part of the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 26, 2025. (Mark Balmores/Canon R6 Mark II)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic during a bilateral meeting held as part of the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 26, 2025. (Mark Balmores/Canon R6 Mark II)
Marcos made the pitch during his bilateral meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on the sidelines of the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
He mentioned it while stressing the Philippines' intention to strengthen all its areas of relations with Laos including trade, defense, investment, education, and people-to-people exchange.
“We would like to strengthen all our relations, trade, defense, and security, and even the people-to-people exchange,” Marcos said, adding that both countries can look into establishing flights connecting Manila to Vientiane, Laos's capital and largest city.
During their meeting, Marcos acknowledged the “great potential” for increased trade between the Philippines and Laos, citing the latter’s rapid economic growth as a promising avenue for expanded economic engagement.
Trade between the Philippines and Laos has seen notable growth, rising to approximately $13.72 million in 2024 from around $7 million in 2019.
Both sides identified additional areas for enhanced cooperation, including agriculture, skills development, tourism, and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology.
He thanked the Philippine government for providing language training and scholarships for its ministries.
The Laotian leader noted Filipino investments in the clean energy sector and invited more Filipino investments in his country’s priority areas, including advanced technology research, clean agriculture, the agro-processing industry, tourism, education, health services, and infrastructure.
Remarkable progress in PH-Vietnam ties
The President also met with the Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines of the summit.
In their meeting, Marcos noted that senior diplomats from the Philippines and Vietnam are currently engaged in discussions aimed at elevating the two countries' existing strategic partnership into a comprehensive strategic partnership.
“Our ministers are in discussion on the possibility of elevating the strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership. I believe there are already productive conversations between our two countries,” the President said.
The Vietnamese Prime Minister, on the other hand, acknowledged the “remarkable progress” in bilateral relations since Marcos’ state visit to Vietnam in January 2024.
“I hope that it has come to the point where we can elevate the strategic partnership between our two countries,” the Vietnamese Prime Minister said.
According to Malacañang, the two leaders recognized the expanding economic and trade cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam. They also strengthened collaboration in agriculture and food security and enhanced people-to-people exchanges in education, tourism, and cultural engagement.
This year, the Philippines and Vietnam commemorate the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership, marking a decade of strengthened cooperation and enduring friendship between the two nations.
At the outset of the meeting, Marcos extended his condolences to the Vietnamese leader on the passing of former Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong on May 20, 2025.

Related Tags

President Marcos ASEAN ASEAN Summit Vientiane PH-Vietnam PH-Laos
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