The Bank of the Lao reported on its delegation’s participation in the 2026 China-ASEAN Financial Cooperation and Development Conference in Nanning. In remarks at the conference, Deputy Governor Soulisack Thamnouvong emphasized using artificial intelligence to strengthen financial cooperation, cross-border payments, risk management and cybersecurity. The delegation advocated greater use of local currencies, particularly the kip and yuan, in trade and cross-border settlement. It also highlighted Laos-China retail payment connectivity through the digital yuan in 2026 and discussed digital payments, AI and commercial banks as channels for expanding local-currency use. Other priorities included an efficient cross-border yuan payment network, interoperable retail payment systems and China-ASEAN cooperation on blue finance. The position builds on the central bank’s earlier emphasis on increasing kip-yuan use in bilateral trade and investment.
2026-09-18Bank of the Lao
Bank of the Lao advocates wider kip-yuan use, e-CNY retail payment links and AI-supported financial cooperation
The Bank of the Lao advocated wider kip-yuan settlement and highlighted Laos-China retail payment connectivity through the digital yuan in 2026. Deputy Governor Soulisack Thamnouvong also emphasized AI’s role in cross-border payments, risk management and cybersecurity at a China-ASEAN financial conference.