29th October 2012 Vientiane, Laos
Opening the British Embassy in Vientiane
The Foreign Secretary announced in April 2012 his intention to re-open our Embassy to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (closed in 1985). Colleagues at the FCO in London have pretty much moved heaven and earth since then to make it happen. I arrived in Vientiane on 12 October, just two months after I received the good news that I had been appointed British Ambassador. I then presented my credentials to President Choummaly Sayasone on 18 October. Six months from a decision to open an Embassy to presentation of credentials must be a record!
We still have much to do before we have a fully functioning Embassy. We sold our former Embassy building some years ago and, while we still own the Ambassador’s Residence, it has been leased by the Australian Government for their Ambassador for many years. So we are starting from scratch. My deputy, Katy Higginson, arrived in Vientiane in August and has done an incredible job blazing the trail on her own, working from a serviced apartment initially and moving to our current arrangement in a temporary office. We have been reinforced by a small team from other Embassies in the region to help us prepare for the Asia Europe summit in Vientiane at the beginning of November (a further reason for getting the Embassy started as quickly as possible) where the UK will have a senior delegation led by the Foreign Secretary. Whilst he is here, the Foreign Secretary will also open our new Embassy office though it will be a few more weeks before the renovation is complete.
Why are we doing all this? Well, we are clear that the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) play a vital role in security and prosperity in the fast emerging East Asian hemisphere. The UK needs to engage seriously because our national interests are impacted by the changes in this region and we want to work with partners here to make the most of the opportunities and help to mitigate the threats. Opening our Embassy in Laos (until now the only ASEAN member without a permanent UK presence) along with the broader shift of our resources into the Asia region, means we are better placed to do this. We will also be able to develop and enhance our bilateral relationship with Laos at an exciting time as Laos prepares for World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership, the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 and as its economy expands.
In the coming weeks, we will build up our Embassy team and build our relationships in Laos across the full spectrum of our work. It is a big challenge but one we are working hard to meet.
Thanks to all of you who have posted comments. It is good to get the feedback. Just to pick up on a couple of the outstanding ones:
Ben: your question about your novel. I think it unlikely that anyone would be able to get into Laos without a passport. The immigration authorities are quite strict about the need for proper documentation as is the case pretty much everywhere.
A Thurston and Nicholas: on the question of our contact details. We are still in temporary offices as I mentioned in my blog. We will move into our new Embassy building (the former Australian Embassy building on Rue Nehru just behind the Patuxay) in the second half of March and will update the website at that time. We will then be able to deal with public enquiries. For the time being we can be contacted via our Embassy in Bangkok. For consular matters, the Australian Embassy in Vientiane will continue to provide this service until we move into our new building.
that’s great ! we are very happy but it would be nice if you let us know the address. Nobody seems to know where it is. Would you kindly let me know your location.
I would like to know when the FCO website will be updated with the details of the new Embassy and new contact details for the Embassy.
I am particularly concerned as there are currently( over the last couple of weeks in particular) a spate of quite violent attacks against western women.
Thanks!
Congratulations on the re-opening of the British Embassy in Ventiane and your appointment. I have very fond memories of the embassy from1968 when my husband was the ambassador’s pilot and playing croquet on the Residence lawn. Every good wish for the future.
Dear His Excellency Philip Malone,
It is great that The British Embassy has finally open in the land of a million elephants. Without the British embassy here it feels like a corner of Europe is missing.
I hope you like to preserve the natural environment and promote the use of plantation wood. we at Burapha Agroforestry Co.,Ltd would like to introduce you to Swedish functional furniturings all made in Laos PDR. We also make to new orders (10 mininmum)
We use eucalyptus, acacia and Teak. Our office just 10mins away from the new British Embassy or even closer to UNDP headquarter.
I have left a small leaflet to Ms Katie at your temporary office at UNDP
Once again an enormous thank you for this big step after so many years away. A very big welcome back to Viengchan to the British embassy and to you Mr Philip, Sir.
Dear Philip,
1st. of all a very big “THANK YOU for releasing my comment (above) at all and so quickly. But this caused also a little problem for me. So – maybe – it is interesting to you that I do sometimes distributing reports of FCO-Bloggers amongst the British Community here in Stuttgart, Wuerttemberg, which is simply called “British Empire Group”. My real intention is of course clear: I ´m only an Anglo- or better Welsh- German, but most of the others are British. So I just wanna do a little PR for the FCO-London, but also PR for those Ambassadors who are writing really excellent reports. (I.e. James Watt,Cairo/Egypt or his follower, Peter Millet, Amman / Jordan.) So I also sent yr. report to some students of these Community Group. It ´s also logical, that some of them asking me about the “Hows” and “why´s “. In yr. case: WHY a new Brutush Embassy in Vientiane/Laos. This is simply to explain. But they also asked “Why is Laos also called “THE THREE ELEPHANT” – state. For I only do know that they are “using an elephant” sometimes as a kind of a NATIONAL -SYMBOL. So well I do hope that I ´m not disturbing you but could you explain it to me. (..if you should find a little time, for it ´s not so urgently…)
For I know that some of this British-Study Group wants to travel in Dec.´12 and Jan. ´13 to the entire INDOCHINA – Area, but with Laos included. So I ´m just looking forward with the hope of hearing and reading some news of you and esp. more excellent reports like this 1st. one.
BW, Ingo-Steven Wais, Stuttgart/Wuerttemberg.
Thanks for your comment and interest in my blog. To answer your specific question about Laos and its national symbols, I can refer you to this helpful website which has a lot of information: http://www.laos-guide-999.com/index.html. The section on the Laos flag describes the historical use of elephants as a national symbol. Wikipedia also has some useful information about the Laos flag. I hope this is helpful.
Dear Philip,
thank you very much for your answer plus this link.
I will also send this to these 2 students of the British Empire Group. So if they are leaving for Laos in Dec., 12 they might be better prepared.
BW, Ingo-Steven
Congratulations Mr Ambassador – This is a Landmark opportunity for British Interests to add greatly to the Growth and wealth creation for the Peoples of Laos. Will be calling upon you for a coffee when I am next in Vientiane. God Speed in your endeavours.
Dear Mr. Philip Malone, my honest congratulations for opening the British Embassy in Vientiane/Laos. To me it ‘s always a sign of hope if doors are reopening again. So also a big THANK YOU to yourself + yr. COLLEAGUES for making it possible. After I ‘ve read yr. report twice ( I ‘m Anglo-German) I only can full agree to you that “..6 months are a new (world?) record in re. of Int’l Diplomacy + Foreign Affairs and reopening an Embassy. `Cause it always takes 2 : My respect also to President CHOUMMALY SAYASONE for his co-operation.
It ś great to read that Laos has now, Nov. 2nd. ’12, a new permanent UK-Presence again as well as the fact that this state is already preparing itself for the forthcoming WTO-Membership. Like, e.g. , Russia. So well , at the moment I only can wish you and yr. team all the best, success and much luck by building up this UK- Laos partnership again. BW, Ingo-Steven Wais, Stuttgart