ESTABLISHING DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
Australia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) are longstanding bilateral and regional partners, with a relationship underpinned by development cooperation, business ties and people-to-people links. Diplomatic relations have existed since 1952 – the longest unbroken diplomatic relationship Laos has with any country.
1
Australia and Laos announce establishment of diplomatic relations.
2
HE Mr John P Quinn OBE becomes first Australian Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Laos. He took up a non-resident post in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam.
3
The first Australian diplomatic representative office established
4
HE Mr Malcolm Morris was the first Australian Minister to be resident in Vientiane
5
Mr Morris became the first Australian Ambassador to Laos when the office was raised to Embassy status
6
Laos’ first Ambassador to Australia based in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).
7
HE Mr Ouday Souvannavong was accredited to the Royal Embassy of Laos in Canberra.
8
The first resident Ambassador, HE Mr Khamchan Pradith, was appointed to the Royal Embassy of Laos in Canberra October 1972.