A grand mass march is held on Tuesday in Vientiane to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The celebrations also included a military parade.

Xi: Bolster cooperation with Laos

(China Daily/ANN) -- On the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, President Xi Jinping said China “has always regarded Laos as a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy”, which observers said echoes the high level of bilateral political trust and the huge potential for pragmatic cooperation that is benefiting both nations.
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, sent a congratulatory message on Tuesday to Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President,  Thongloun Sisoulith.
In the message, Xi said that, as comrades and brothers, China is sincerely pleased with the progress Laos has made, as the LPRP has united and led the Lao people in persevering through hardships and forging ahead, and achieved gratifying results in the cause of reforms and opening-up.
Laos has seen its people’s livelihoods continuously improving and the country’s international and regional influence significantly enhanced, he said.
China is firmly convinced that Laos will continue on a socialist path suited to its national conditions, ensure the successful convening of the upcoming 12th National Congress of the LPRP, and continuously open up new prospects for the cause of party and state development, Xi added.
Next year marks the 65th anniversary of the founding of China-Laos diplomatic ties.
Xi said that China stands ready to work with Laos to take the 65th anniversary as an opportunity to carry forward traditional friendship, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, as well as deepen and substantiate China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperation in the new era, in order to bring more benefits to the two peoples and make greater contributions to peace and development in the region and the world.
Thongloun made a successful visit to China in September and attended the V-Day celebrations in Beijing on September 3.
Xu Liping, a researcher on Southeast Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that both China and Laos are socialist countries, and they deeply identify with each other.
The action plans signed by the CPC and the LPRP on building the China-Laos community with a shared future in 2019 and 2023 respectively “serve as clear reminders of the high-level political mutual trust between the two countries”, he said.
China has been Laos’ largest source of foreign investment and one of its major trading partners, with more than 80 percent of Laos’ agricultural exports going to China.

(Latest Update December 4, 2025)