Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing visits Laos in first trip to an ASEAN member state

Myanmar’s leader Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Laos on Friday (Jul 3) in his first visit to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member state since taking office. 

He met Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Vientiane, where they signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), including one to cooperate on space technology.

Analysts say the visit is significant for regional geopolitical dynamics, as it signals a potential shift in how some members of the regional grouping are engaging with Myanmar’s military-backed administration. 

Min Aung Hlaing transitioned from head of the military government to the country’s civilian leader in April.

As a bloc, ASEAN has neither endorsed Min Aung Hlaing’s government nor recognised the staggered elections that concluded on Jan 25 this year. The army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party was declared the winner of the polls, the first held since the military seized power in 2021. 

Laos has already had various exchanges with Myanmar this year, including a visit to Naypyidaw by a delegation led by the Lao-Myanmar Friendship Association. 

The two countries also held a series of high-level exchanges last month. A Lao military delegation visited Myanmar, while Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane met Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw. 

These prior developments paved the way for Min Aung Hlaing’s eventual visit to Vientiane. 

BILATERAL TIES WITH NEIGHBOURS

Last month, Min Aung Hlaing visited Myanmar’s giant neighbours China and India. 

He met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and secured at least 18 agreements in areas such as trade, healthcare and infrastructure cooperation.

China’s policy on Myanmar has long been one of non-interference, with Beijing occasionally urging Myanmar to pursue peace and reconciliation, while ensuring stability along their shared border. 

In India, Min Aung Hlaing met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a five-day state visit, where the two leaders discussed matters relating to trade, connectivity and defence. 

Myanmar and India share a land border stretching 1,643km, making security and cross-border trade pertinent issues in their bilateral relationship.

Since Min Aung Hlaing’s trip, the Myanmar army has been pushing to reclaim territories from rebel forces in a bid to reopen India-Myanmar trade routes, which have remained disrupted for years.