On the morning of 24 September 2026, the Office of the Investment Promotion and Management Committee (IPMC) convened a consultation meeting to prepare for the upcoming meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee for the Boten–Mohan Economic Cooperation Zone, scheduled to take place in October 2026.
The meeting was chaired by H.E. Ms. Phonvanh Outhavong, Deputy Minister , Vice Chairperson of the IPMC, Standing Member and Chairperson of the Joint Coordination Committee for the Boten–Mohan Economic Cooperation Zone. The meeting brought together senior officials and representatives from relevant ministries, agencies and Luang Namtha Province, who participated both in person and virtually.
The meeting aimed to follow up on the Decision of the Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairperson of the IPMC, No. 044/IPMC, dated 7 September 2026, on the appointment of the Joint Coordination Committee, Joint Executive Committee and supporting secretariat for the Boten–Mohan Economic Cooperation Zone. The composition of these bodies was recently updated following the restructuring of relevant government institutions.
The upcoming Joint Coordination Committee meeting will provide an important opportunity for the Lao side to review progress, discuss key issues and exchange views in preparation for consultations with the Chinese side in Mohan, China.
Cooperation on the development of the zone dates back to 31 August 2015, when the Governments of the Lao PDR and the People’s Republic of China signed the Joint Cooperation Framework. Since then, both sides have established coordination mechanisms at different levels and appointed representatives from relevant sectors to support the development of the zone. Regular consultations between the Lao and Chinese sides have also been maintained to jointly advance the Boten–Mohan Economic Cooperation Zone.
A further milestone was reached on 12 October 2024, when the two governments signed the Revised Joint Framework Agreement on the Establishment of the Boten–Mohan Economic Cooperation Zone. The revised framework updated a number of provisions to better reflect current conditions and development needs.
Under the revised framework, the total area of the cooperation zone was expanded from 2,123 hectares to 2,423 hectares. The Lao side designated 1,640 hectares of the Boten Beautiful Land Specific Economic Zone as its section of the cooperation zone, while the Mohan section on the Chinese side was expanded from 483 hectares to 783 hectares.
To strengthen the implementation and management of the cooperation zone, the two sides agreed on a three-tier coordination mechanism:
- Joint Coordination Committee: The Lao side is chaired by the Deputy Minister and Standing Vice Chairperson of the IPMC, while the Chinese side is represented at the equivalent vice-ministerial level of the Ministry of Commerce of China. The Committee also includes representatives from relevant ministries and provincial authorities of both countries.
- Joint Executive Committee: The Lao side is headed by the Head of the IPMC Office and includes representatives from relevant ministries and Luang Namtha Province. The Chinese side comprises representatives of the Yunnan Provincial Government and relevant provincial authorities.
- Joint Management Mechanism: Each side has established its own management body within the cooperation zone. On the Chinese side, the zone is managed by the China–Laos Economic Cooperation Zone Management Committee. On the Lao side, the Investment Promotion and Management Committee Office of Luang Namtha Province works with relevant authorities to oversee day-to-day administration and management, with regular reporting to the Joint Executive Committee.
The Boten–Mohan Economic Cooperation Zone has continued to make progress, particularly in infrastructure development on the Lao side. The Boten Beautiful Land Specific Economic Zone, covering a concession area of 1,640 hectares, has steadily developed the infrastructure needed to support investment, particularly in trade, services and tourism.
As of July 2026, a total of 936 business entities were operating in the zone, including 288 companies, of which 30 were domestic enterprises. Their registered capital totaled RMB 2.307 billion and LAK 976.74 billion.
The zone also hosted 648 shops and commercial establishments, including 158 domestic businesses, with registered capital totaling RMB 3.190 billion and LAK 303.95 billion.
From 2017 to 10 September 2026, the zone contributed a total of approximately LAK 55.68 billion in taxes and other fiscal obligations to the state budget.
In 2026, the management bodies of both countries continued their consultations and agreed to accelerate the implementation of key priorities under the cooperation framework.
Going forward, both sides will continue working together to facilitate trade and investment, improve the movement of people and goods across the border, strengthen joint coordination and monitoring, and create a more efficient and enabling environment for businesses and investors.
These efforts are expected to further advance the development of the Boten–Mohan Economic Cooperation Zone in line with the objectives set out in the Joint Cooperation Framework and contribute to deeper economic cooperation between the Lao PDR and China.