Honouring Five Decades of Nationhood, Progress and Partnership
Edited by Anna Popper
The Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) in Hungary commemorated the 50th National Day of the Lao PDR with a diplomatic reception on 28 November 2025 at the MOMKult in Budapest.
The National Day marks the historic establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, highlighting the country’s achievements and its ongoing commitment to national development, peace, and international cooperation. This year’s commemoration also emphasized the strengthening of the partnership between the Lao PDR and Hungary.
The event was graced by H.E. Mr. István Jakab, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, as the Guest of Honour. Among those present were government officials, representatives from the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, members of the diplomatic corps, friends of Laos, and members of the Lao community in Hungary.
The ceremony began with the national anthems of Laos and Hungary.
Following this, H.E. Mr. Khamphone Vongsanty, Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to Hungary, delivered his address in Hungarian, reflecting his personal connection to the country as a former student in Hungary.
He welcomed the guests and recalled that on 2 December 1975 the Lao PDR was proclaimed, reaffirming the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Laos.
The Ambassador highlighted the challenges of the post-war period – especially the aftermath of the bombings and the continuing danger of unexploded ordnance – and stressed the government’s long-term efforts to address the war’s impact and raise living standards. He underlined the importance of the New Economic Mechanism (1986) in advancing market-oriented reforms and opening Laos to broader regional and international integration, including participation in frameworks such as ASEAN, the WTO, and the AEC.
Reviewing development progress, he referenced the implementation of nine Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plans, noted the average growth of 5.1% over the past decade, and reported a reduction in poverty from 46% (1993) to 15% (2025). He added that Laos was on track to graduate from least developed country status by 2026 and reiterated the goal of transforming from “landlocked” to “land-linked”, including through hydropower development and regional connectivity.
With regard to foreign policy, Ambassador Vongsanty reaffirmed Laos’s consistent principles of peace, independence, friendship, and cooperation, and called for peaceful solutions to global conflicts.
On behalf of the Lao government, he thanked the European Union for its valuable support to the social and economic development of the Lao PDR over the years. He also acknowledged the EU’s intention to work closely with the Lao government to ensure a smooth transition from its status as a least developed country. This includes providing the Lao PDR with three additional years to benefit from unilateral EU trade preferences – duty-free/quota-free exports under the Everything But Arms arrangement. He noted that the two sides are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations this year.
The Ambassador also reviewed cooperation with Hungary, noting that diplomatic relations were established on 12 September 1962 and developed into a strategic partnership in 2019. He recalled that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, Saleumxay Kommasith, paid an official visit to Hungary in 2022, during which the minister and his Hungarian counterpart jointly opened the Embassy of the Lao PDR in Budapest. He then pointed to the opening of the Hungarian Embassy in Vientiane in 2024.
Education featured prominently as a priority area of cooperation. He noted that over 300 Lao graduates of Hungarian universities now hold senior positions in Laos, that Hungary has increased the number of scholarships from 50 to 150 per year, and that more than 400 Lao students are currently studying in Hungary.
On behalf of the government and people of the Lao PDR, he expressed sincere thanks to the Hungarian government and people for their support and assistance over the years, emphasizing that this has significantly contributed to Laos’s socio-economic development.
Finally, on this auspicious occasion, he expressed his hope that the friendly relations and cooperation between the Lao PDR and Hungary would be further deepened and expanded for the mutual benefit of both peoples.
The Guest of Honour, H.E. Mr. István Jakab, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, took the floor and conveyed congratulations and best wishes on behalf of the Hungarian National Assembly.
He described Laos as an important partner in Southeast Asia, welcomed the progress made since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1962, and emphasized that educational cooperation – such as the Stipendium Hungaricum program – remains one of the strongest bridges between the two countries. He highlighted that the Ambassador himself had once studied in Hungary, symbolizing the strength of these ties. Mr. Jakab concluded with a toast to Laos’s National Day and continued cooperation.
After the official part, the guests enjoyed cultural performances by Lao students, including traditional dances in folklore attire and Lao songs with musical accompaniment, offering a deeper appreciation of Lao heritage.
The evening concluded with a reception featuring specialities of Lao gastronomy, with attendees engaging in friendly exchanges in a warm and cordial atmosphere, reflecting the lasting friendship between Laos and Hungary.
Source: Embassy of Lao PDR in Budapest
Photos: Diplomatic Press Agency
