AGP Executive Report
Last update: 8 hours agoASEAN–Russia Summit in Kazan: ASEAN leaders wrapped up a two-day meeting in Kazan, adopting the Kazan Declaration to expand ASEAN–Russia cooperation across 16 areas through 2030, with Laos among the delegations. Tourism & people-to-people links: The summit explicitly points to growth in tourism and humanitarian contacts alongside trade, energy, digitalization, science and technology. Laos business angle (payments for travel/trade): Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Oudet Souvannavong said discussions at the summit include joining Russia’s Mir payment system, stressing that payment gateways—not tariffs—are the key hurdle for Russia-linked tourism and commerce. Wildlife rescue in Laos: A Singaporean conservationist helped coordinate the extraction of 27 moon bears from an illegal bile farm in Laos, moving them to the Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary after a government shutdown. Laos development funding: Laos signed seven new projects worth USD 3.31 million with China under the Mekong–Lancang Special Fund for 2026, targeting health, agriculture, water resources, HR development and poverty reduction. Church leadership transition: Laos’ Catholic community is entering a new leadership era as older clergy hand over to a younger generation of bishops, priests and lay leaders.
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![[ANN] From the zoo to the mountains: A Singaporean's quest to rescue bears in Laos](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/18/news-p.v1.20260615.e8cbb558a6a541fd8a50feb7010764d4_T1.png)
![[ANN] From the zoo to the mountains: A Singaporean's quest to rescue bears in Laos](/images/news-fallback.svg)
