JAKARTA - Indonesia and Laos are seeking to restart the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), a long-delayed bilateral commission as both sides try to give more structure to a relationship that now spans trade, investment and security. 

In Vientiane on Monday, 20 April, Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Muhammad Anis Matta met Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Anouparb Vongnorkeo and discussed reactivating the JCBC alongside a planned visit by Laos’ foreign minister to Jakarta and preparations for the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2027.

“The two sides also discussed efforts to improve cooperation in various fields, including economics, investment, tourism, and culture, as well as the importance of strengthening coordination in addressing regional dynamics,” Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry statement reads.

Official Indonesian records indicate that the Indonesia–Laos Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) has been in place for years, even though a complete public timeline is not clearly documented on current official pages. The forum has nevertheless been used to discuss a range of key policy issues.

At the 3rd JCBC in Yogyakarta in 2011, the foreign ministers of Indonesia and Laos discussed introducing visa-free travel for ordinary passport holders. By the 4th JCBC in Vientiane in July 2013, both sides had moved to agree on launching a direct Jakarta-Vientiane flight, as bilateral trade surged by 300% from US$9.9 million in 2011 to US$27 million in 2012.

At the 5th JCBC in Jakarta in 2017, discussions expanded into security and defense, with both countries focusing on cooperation to combat transnational organized crime, including illicit drug trafficking and terrorism.

Besides his meeting with Vongnorkeo, Anis also met Laos Public Security Minister Lt. Gen. Vanthong Kongmany, Lao Front for National Development Vice President Lao Pao Song Navongxay, and Lao Islamic Organisation President Somboune Khan.

“The discussions focused on a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Public Security of Laos and the Indonesian National Police,” Laos’ statement reads, as quoted by its state-owned agency Lao News Agency.

“Both sides pledged to enhance cooperation in several key areas of transnational crime, including drug trafficking, counter-terrorism, smuggling, human trafficking, cybercrime and money laundering.”