On October 14, 2026, in Mohan, PR China, the 1st meeting of the Joint Working Committee was held. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Phouvieng Ngouphasy, Deputy Director General of the Investment Promotion and Management Committee Office (representing the Lao side), and, on the Chinese side, by Ms. Sun Min, Deputy Director of the Department of Commerce of Yunnan Province, and Mr. Zhao Mingchang, Deputy Mayor of Kunming City, PR China. This meeting marked the first engagement of the bilateral Joint Working Committee following the revision of the cooperation framework in 2024 and the restructuring of coordination mechanisms—specifically, the internal coordination committees established by each side. This also serves to follow up on the outcomes of the meetings and discussions held on August 18, 2026, in Kunming between the relevant sectors of both sides. During these discussions, progress was reviewed—including outstanding tasks and urgent work plans that must be jointly expedited for completion within 2026. In particular, this concerns the opening of the Phase I enclosed zone, with a tentative official opening date set for December 3, 2026. This date coincides with the celebrations for the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and China, as well as the 5th anniversary of the commencement of operations for the Laos-China Railway.
Lao and Chinese Sides Jointly Accelerate the Development of the Boten (Lao PDR) – Bohan (PRC) Economic Cooperation Zone
