Laos Bilateral Linkages

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• Bilateral Linkages
• Development Assistance
• Other Connections

Laos Bilateral Linkages

New Zealand's relationship with Laos is friendly but limited.  Along with increasing dialogue under the ASEAN umbrella, the relationship has primarily revolved around development assistance and (until 2003) limited defence links through New Zealand Defence Force technical assistance in UXO clearance.  New Zealand's development assistance to Laos has been well received.  There is a small Lao community in New Zealand after refugees were received in the 1980s.

The New Zealand Ambassador in Bangkok has been cross-accredited to Laos since February 1963.  The Laos Ambassador in Canberra is cross-accredited to New Zealand.

Trade between New Zealand and Laos remains very limited.  New Zealand products available in Laos mainly comprise telephone and transmission apparatus and, from time to time, meat, butter and cheese.  Although Lao people are not culturally averse to eating red meat and dairy products (because of the earlier French influence), the market is limited in size.

There is potential in Laos for New Zealand input in forestry, education, agriculture, mining, civil aviation and hydro electricity generation projects.  Some New Zealand engineering and other consultants work in these sectors.

Visits

To Laos

• Hon Jim Sutton, then Minister for Trade Negotiations, visited in March 2003 as part of a South East Asia trade mission.
• Sir Robin Gray, former Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade visited Laos in February 1995 on a goodwill visit.  
• The Hon Philip Burdon visited in March 1996.
• The Rt Hon Don McKinnon visited in October 1997, as Foreign Minister.

To New Zealand

• The first official Lao delegation visited New Zealand in February 1994, led by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr Sitaheng Rasphone.  
• Foreign Minister Somsavat Lengsavad made an official visit to New Zealand in July 1996
• The same Foreign Minister also came to New Zealand in January/February 1998 for English language training and visited New Zealand again in February 2005.