(KPL) A delegation from the Lao PDR, led by Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Phonevanh Outhavong, along with representatives from the National Assembly, the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, line ministries, and UNFPA Lao PDR, visited Cambodia from January 21-24, 2025. The visit aimed to learn from Cambodia’s experience in cross-sectoral and inter-ministerial coordination in population and development.

A key focus of the mission was Cambodia’s successful establishment of a Special Interministerial Committee for Accelerating the Implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD PoA). This committee has played a vital role in aligning national efforts with sustainable development priorities and regional and global commitments.

During their visit, the Lao delegation engaged in in-depth discussions on critical ICPD PoA priorities, including reproductive health, gender equality, youth empowerment, data-driven development planning, addressing gender-based violence, and maximizing the demographic dividend for resilience. The insights gained from these discussions are expected to inform Lao PDR’s ongoing efforts to strengthen national coordination mechanisms for population and development.

The delegation expressed a strong interest in Cambodia’s inter-ministerial Strategic Framework and Costed Action Plan for accelerating ICPD PoA implementation from 2024 to 2030. Additionally, the Lao delegation shared their own experience in developing a Demographic Dividend Roadmap and highlighted progress made in implementing recommendations from the 2023 National Conference on Population and Development. Cambodia’s Ministry of Planning recognized Lao PDR’s efforts and acknowledged the potential for future bilateral collaboration to advance shared goals under the ICPD PoA.

The visit resulted in concrete follow-up actions aimed at strengthening collaboration between Cambodia and Lao PDR. A key step is the exploration of a cooperation framework on South-South exchange, focusing on demographic resilience and joint advocacy to accelerate ICPD PoA implementation. Future exchanges may involve various sectors such as health, education, labor, social welfare, and statistics to further strengthen the ICPD agenda. Building on the success of the joint side event at the 57th session of the Global Commission on Population and Development in 2024, Cambodia and Lao PDR will explore hosting additional side events at regional and global levels to share best practices in development. Furthermore, a mechanism for virtual collaboration between the planning ministries will be established to ensure continued follow-up and knowledge-sharing.

To ensure sustained progress, several recommendations were proposed, including expanding sectoral engagements through capacity-building and joint research, as well as supporting regular communication. The possibility of establishing a national coordination committee on population and development in the Lao PDR will also be explored, alongside developing a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to track progress under the National Population and Development Policy (2019-2030). As Lao PDR moves forward with the establishment of its national coordination committee, this partnership will continue to play a crucial role in aligning policies and programs with global and regional priorities.

In addition to the exchange of best practices between the Ministry of Planning and Investment of the Lao PDR and the Ministry of Planning of Cambodia, this initiative marks a significant milestone in advancing regional partnerships and commitments under the ICPD PoA. Future cooperation initiatives across key sectors will further support capacity-building and cross-border efforts to address common challenges, strengthen ASEAN regional integration, and contribute to sustainable development and shared prosperity. The shared commitment of Cambodia and the Lao PDR to expand South-South cooperation initiatives represents a new chapter in strengthening connectivity, innovation, digitalization, and demographic resilience across the region.

KPL