Saleumxay Kommasith
Saleumxay Kommasith is a Laotian politician who serves as the Deputy Prime Minister of Laos since June 2022. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos from April 2016 to November 2024. He is one of 13 members of 11th Politburo of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.
Life and career
Saleumxay was born in Houaphan Province, Laos. He gained his MA in International Relations at the Moscow State University of International Relations in Moscow, Russia from 1986 to 1992. He continued his education at Monash University in 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. He was elected as Minister of Foreign Affairs in April 2016. He was reelected as Minister of Foreign Affairs for second term at the 9th National Assembly in March 2021. On June 2022, he was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister. On November 2024, he transferred to Prime Minister's office and was succeeded as Foreign Minister by Thongsavanh Phomvihane.