President Thongloun Sisoulith (left) accompanies President Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermudez to inspect a guard of honour.

Lao, Cuban presidents agree to enhance ties

Party Secretary General and President Thongloun Sisoulith and the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermudez have agreed that Laos and Cuba will continue to work together to cement ties between the two countries.
The Cuban leader paid a state visit to Laos on September 6 to 7 at the invitation of President Thongloun, aiming to enhance bilateral ties, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.
During their talks on Sunday, held shortly after an official welcome ceremony, the two leaders said they highly valued their countries’ cooperation in legislative, judicial, economic and trade, health, education, sports, agriculture, and socio-cultural spheres.
They also agreed to encourage their relevant sectors of government to continue discussing and working closely together to deliver tangible results to the two countries and peoples.

President Thongloun Sisoulith (right) welcomes President Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermudez.

The leaders exchanged views, shared lessons learnt, and discussed the future direction of cooperation between Laos and Cuba to advance the common interests of their peoples.
President Thongloun said he highly valued President Bermudez’s visit, which is the third of its kind, and conveyed his greetings to Cuba’s Party and State leaders.

The two leaders also briefed each other on important events taking place in their respective countries and expressed their delight at witnessing the growing ties between the two parties, states, and peoples.
Describing Laos and Cuba as strategic friends with the same ideology, the leaders observed that the two countries’ political ties are at an excellent level.
President Thongloun, on behalf of the Party, Government and people of Laos, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the invaluable support and assistance provided by the Party, Government and people of brotherly Cuba to the Party, Government and people of Laos since the time of the struggle for national liberation until the present.
President Thongloun reaffirmed Laos’ unwavering policy to preserve and further enhance the good, longstanding relations and solidarity between Laos and Cuba.
He expressed Laos’ commitment to standing shoulder to shoulder with the brotherly Cuban people to move forward and achieve new successes together.
Mr Thongloun also invited President Bermudez to attend a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao PDR, which will take place at the end of this year.
For his part, Mr Bermudez expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to himself and his delegation.
He affirmed that Cuba would continue to enhance the longstanding friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. He expressed his gratitude to Laos for continually extending cooperation and supporting Cuba to overcome various obstacles and challenges - a relationship initiated by President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Fidel Castro, the former great leaders of the two countries.
On the same day, President Bermudez called on Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone to discuss ways to enhance ties.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update September 8, 2025)