List of ambassadors of Sweden to Laos

Sweden established diplomatic relations with Laos on 10 October 1964.^[1] After an agreement was reached between Sweden and Laos to establish diplomatic relations at the embassy level, the ambassador in Bangkok, Thailand, Åke Sjölin, was appointed on 15 January 1965 as ambassador also to Vientiane.^[2]

In 1978, Sweden opened an aid office in Vientiane,^[3] which also functioned as an embassy office.^[4] Between 1981 and 1987, the embassy office (also referred to as the embassy) was headed by a diplomat seconded from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, serving as head of mission and chargé d'affaires ad interim while the ambassador, who was resident in Bangkok, was absent. During the periods 1978–1980 and 1987–2008, the head of the aid office, employed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), served as head of mission and chargé d'affaires ad interim. The head of the aid office held the diplomatic rank of counsellor.^[5]

The embassy was closed on 15 August 2008 as the Swedish government decided to phase out bilateral development assistance to Laos.^[6] A section office was established under Sida's auspices during 2008–2010,^[7] and was gradually wound down as development cooperation there was phased out.^[8]