On November 19, 2024, Mr. Zhang Tianyi, Director of Tahota Vientiane Office, and his delegation were invited to pay a visit to Mr. Phayvy Sibualipha, Minister of Justice of Laos in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

Minister Phayvy extended his congratulations to Tahota Law Firm for its distinguished achievements as an outstanding representative of Chinese law firms. Since its inception in March 2016, the Tahota Vientiane Office has been instrumental in supporting the Chinese Embassy in Laos, serving Chinese businesses, the Lao Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Lao Chinese provincial chambers of commerce, and Chinese citizens by safeguarding their legal rights and interests and guiding them in compliant business practices. The Office has been profoundly involved in significant and impactful projects such as the Asia-Pacific Satellite, Laos-China Railway, Vientiane -Vang Vieng Expressway, and the National Power Grid. Minister Phayvy acknowledged Tahota’s contributions to Sino-Lao judicial cooperation, legal profession exchanges, and legal education cooperation, and invited the Office to further engage in legislative hearings, legal vocational education, and international legal exchanges and cooperation between China and Laos, thereby aiding in the continuous enhancement of Laos’ legal framework. He assured continued support for Tahota’s endeavors in Laos and its quest for even greater accomplishments.

Minister Phayvy provided insights into the current landscape of law firms in Laos, expressing his aspiration for more foreign law firms to operate in Laos, thereby bolstering the development of the Lao legal industry. He indicated his commitment to establishing a regular dialogue mechanism between the Ministry of Justice and foreign law firms in Laos to strengthen policy communication. In addressing dispute resolution related to foreign investment, Laos is actively learning from neighboring countries and collaborating with regional arbitration and mediation institutions to refine the legal protections for foreign investment.

During the visit, Mr. Zhang Tianyi reported the fruits of the Office’s legal services and efforts for Chinese-funded enterprises and projects in Laos as the first Chinese law firm in Laos, including safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in Laos, actively participating in the hearings of legislation on foreign investment, advising on the resolution mechanism improvement, and assisting and promoting exchanges of China-Lao legal professions, disseminating China’s experiences in law system construction, and displaying the international image of Chinese lawyers. On behalf of Tahota lawyers, the Chinese legal community, and the Belt and Road International Lawyers Association, he conveyed heartfelt gratitude to Minister Phayvy and the Lao Ministry of Justice for their enduring attention and support.

The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Department of Judicial Administration and Promotion and the Department of International Cooperation of the Lao Ministry of Justice.