Saleumxay Kommasith


Saleumxay Kommasith is a Laotian politician who has been Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos since April 2016. Previously, he was Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2016. He is a member of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.
He was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs at the 8th National Assembly on April 20, 2016.

Life and career

Saleumxay was born in Houaphan Province, Laos. He gained his MA for International Relations at the Moscow State University of International Relations in Moscow, Russia from 1986 to 1992. He continued his education in Monash University, Australia for another MA in International Study and Development from 1996 to 1997. In addition to Lao, he also speaks Russian, French and English.
Throughout his years in the government, he has an extensive list of appointments. He was Director General of the Department of International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2007 to 2011. From 2011 to 2012, he was Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs. From 2012 to 2013, he served as Permanent Representative of Laos to the United Nations. He was Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2016. Since April 2016, he has been Minister of Foreign Affairs.