The successful conclusion of the 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) on January 8 has served as a spur to the further development of the socialist country’s fraternal relationship with neighbouring China.
A January 11 report published by the Xinhua News Agency noted that the congress had summarised Laos’ achievements over the past five years, charting the future direction of the country’s socialist development, and injecting new impetus into the advancement of China-Laos relations.
It added that: “The congress reviewed and adopted a series of key political documents, including the political report of the 11th Central Committee and the 10th Five-Year Plan for Socio-Economic Development (2026-2030). Under the plan, Laos aims to achieve an average annual economic growth rate of six percent during the 2026-2030 period.
“A key highlight of the congress was the adoption of the Party’s third political program, which clearly sets the goal of transforming the country into an upper-middle-income developing nation by 2055, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the LPRP.”
In this regard, the China-Laos Railway was frequently cited as a key driver of national development. However, besides transport infrastructure, “cooperation between the two countries has expanded across a wide range of sectors under the strategic guidance of senior leaders from both sides. Substantial progress has been made in energy, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and other key areas, further consolidating the China-Laos community with a shared future.”
Noting that the successful conclusion of the congress opens a new chapter in Laos’ socialist development and heralds fresh historical opportunities for advancing the China-Laos community with a shared future, the article said that Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and Lao President, stated that Laos stands ready to work with China to fully implement the action plan for building the China-Laos community with a shared future, strengthen unity and cooperation, jointly address risks and challenges arising from changes in the international and regional landscape, and safeguard the shared interests of both parties and countries.
And Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong reaffirmed China’s commitment to working closely with Laos to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries. She noted that the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos presents an opportunity to deepen exchanges on governance experience, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and promote the development of both countries’ socialist causes.
On January 13, Thongloun Sisoulith met in the Lao capital Vientiane with Liu Haixing, Special Envoy of General Secretary Xi Jinping and Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC).
Liu delivered a congratulatory letter from General Secretary Xi Jinping and conveyed a verbal message from him to Thongloun Sisoulith and said that China warmly congratulates the successful convening of the 12th National Congress of the LPRP and Thongloun Sisoulith on his reelection as General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee. In recent years, under the strategic guidance and personal promotion of General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith, China-Laos relations have continuously upgraded and entered the best period in history.
Thongloun Sisoulith expressed gratitude to General Secretary Xi Jinping for appointing Comrade Liu Haixing as a special envoy to visit Laos immediately after the 12th National Congress of the LPRP, and thanked China for its long-term valuable support and assistance to Laos.
The KPL Lao News Agency further reported Sisoulith as saying that the visit reflects the importance China attaches to the long-standing friendship and the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Laos and China, based on the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, and good partners,” and the building of a Lao–China community with a shared future.
The Lao leader also briefed the Chinese delegation on the key outcomes of the 12th National Congress and expressed gratitude for China’s continued support, particularly during the preparations for the Congress. Both sides agreed to further strengthen political trust and strategic guidance, contributing to the advancement of socialism and regional peace and stability.
The Lao General Secretary also welcomed the signing of the Cooperation Plan between the two parties for the period 2026–2030, describing it as an important step in elevating bilateral party relations to higher standards, higher quality, and a higher level.
The same day, Special Envoy and Minister Liu Haixing also held talks with Bounleua Phandanouvong, Head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations.
Liu said that China is willing to work with Laos to take the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and countries as a guide, and take the implementation of the new five-year action plan on building a China-Laos community with a shared future as a handle, to continuously advance the building of a high-standard, high-quality, and high-level China-Laos community with a shared future, inject new impetus into the socialist modernisation of the two countries, and contribute positive energy to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.
Earlier, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung also visited Laos as Special Envoy of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam, on a similar mission.
The following articles were originally published on the websites of the Xinhua News Agency, the IDCPC and the KPL Lao News Agency.
Development of Lao socialism injects new momentum into China-Laos relations
VIENTIANE, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) — The development of socialism in Laos injects new momentum into China-Laos relations.
The three-day 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) concluded successfully on Jan. 8, summarizing Laos’ achievements over the past five years, charting the future direction of the country’s socialist development, and injecting new impetus into the advancement of China-Laos relations.
The congress reviewed and adopted a series of key political documents, including the political report of the 11th Central Committee and the 10th Five-Year Plan for Socio-Economic Development (2026-2030). Under the plan, Laos aims to achieve an average annual economic growth rate of 6 percent during the 2026-2030 period.
A key highlight of the congress was the adoption of the Party’s third political program, which clearly sets the goal of transforming the country into an upper-middle-income developing nation by 2055, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the LPRP.
During the congress, the China-Laos Railway was frequently cited as a key driver of national development. Lao Minister of Public Works and Transport Leklay Sivilay stated in a media interview that the railway has played a vital role in promoting Laos’ socio-economic growth.
According to the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd. (LCRC), which operates the Lao section of the China-Laos Railway, the Lao section had carried more than 11.84 million passengers and transported over 16.77 million tons of freight as of Jan. 8. Since its opening four years ago, the railway has steadily improved operational efficiency, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and facilitating economic and trade exchanges between China and Laos.
Beyond transport infrastructure, cooperation between the two countries has expanded across a wide range of sectors under the strategic guidance of senior leaders from both sides. Substantial progress has been made in energy, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and other key areas, further consolidating the China-Laos community with a shared future. Notable achievements include the successful launch of the China-Laos 500 kV power grid interconnection project, marking a new chapter in cross-border power cooperation, and the handover of the China-aided Mahosot General Hospital, which has improved Laos’ healthcare capacity. In addition, projects such as the China-aided rural poverty alleviation infrastructure initiative have been implemented, contributing directly to improved livelihoods.
While strategic and livelihood-related cooperation has continued to deepen, China-Laos economic and trade ties have also delivered tangible results, providing strong impetus for the development of bilateral relations. According to local daily Vientiane Times report on Nov. 2025, trade between Laos and China continued to expand, reaching 8.23 billion U.S. dollars in 2024 and 4.6 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2025. China’s cumulative investment across various sectors in Laos has exceeded 18 billion U.S. dollars, making it the country’s largest source of foreign investment.
A series of livelihood projects that embody bilateral friendship, together with robust economic and trade figures, painted a vivid picture of the China-Laos community with a shared future taking root, and injected sustained momentum into the deepening of strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The successful conclusion of the 12th LPRP National Congress opens a new chapter in Laos’ socialist development and heralds fresh historical opportunities for advancing the China-Laos community with a shared future. Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and Lao president, stated that Laos stands ready to work with China to fully implement the action plan for building the China-Laos community with a shared future, strengthen unity and cooperation, jointly address risks and challenges arising from changes in the international and regional landscape, and safeguard the shared interests of both parties and countries.
Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong reaffirmed China’s commitment to working closely with Laos to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries. She noted that the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos presents an opportunity to deepen exchanges on governance experience, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, promote the development of both countries’ socialist causes, and build a high-standard, high-quality, and high-level community with a shared future, promote the building of a more just and reasonable global governance system, and set a positive example for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Liu Haixing Conveys a Verbal Message from General Secretary Xi Jinping to Thongloun Sisoulith
January 15 (IDCPC) – Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), met here today with Liu Haixing, Special Envoy of General Secretary Xi Jinping and Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC).
Liu delivered a congratulatory letter from General Secretary Xi Jinping and conveyed a verbal message from General Secretary Xi Jinping to Thongloun Sisoulith. Liu said, China warmly congratulates the successful convening of the 12th National Congress of the LPRP and Thongloun Sisoulith on his reelection as General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee. In recent years, under the strategic guidance and personal promotion of General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith, China-Laos relations have continuously upgraded and entered the best period in history. Under the new circumstances, China is willing to work with Laos to follow the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and the two countries, consolidate strategic mutual trust, carry forward the everlasting friendship between the two peoples, deepen practical cooperation, and push the development of China-Laos relations and the building of a community with a shared future to a new stage.
Thongloun Sisoulith asked Liu to convey his warm greetings and best wishes to General Secretary Xi Jinping. He expressed gratitude to General Secretary Xi Jinping for appointing Comrade Liu Haixing as a special envoy to visit Laos immediately after the 12th National Congress of the LPRP, and thanked China for its long-term valuable support and assistance to Laos. Thongloun Sisoulith said, Laos has always firmly supported the major global initiatives proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and has always firmly supported China’s positions on issues concerning China’s core interests and major concerns. Laos is willing to work with China to fully implement the new five-year action plan on building a community with a shared future between Laos and China, and to continuously achieve new results in the development of relations between the two Parties and the two countries.
Lao Party General Secretary Receives Special Representative of Chinese Party Leader
January 14 (KPL) – The General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, Thongloun Sisoulith, has received a courtesy call from Liu Haixing, a member of the Central Committee and Head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China.
The meeting took place on January 13, 2026. Liu Haixing visited Laos as the Special Representative of Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, to convey congratulations on the successful convening of the 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.
During the meeting, General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith expressed high appreciation and sincere thanks to the CPC Central Committee and General Secretary Xi Jinping for appointing a special representative. He noted that the visit reflects the importance China attaches to the long-standing friendship and the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Laos and China, based on the spirit of “good neighbors, good friends, good comrades, and good partners,” and the building of a Lao–China community with a shared future.
The Lao Party leader briefed the Chinese delegation on the key outcomes of the 12th National Congress and expressed gratitude for China’s continued support, particularly during the preparations for the Congress. Both sides agreed to further strengthen political trust and strategic guidance, contributing to the advancement of socialism and regional peace and stability.
General Secretary Thongloun also welcomed the signing of the Cooperation Plan between the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the Communist Party of China for the period 2026–2030, describing it as an important step in elevating bilateral party relations to higher standards, higher quality, and a higher level.
On the occasion, Liu Haixing handed over a congratulatory message from General Secretary Xi Jinping, congratulating the success of the 12th National Congress and the re-election of Thongloun Sisoulith as General Secretary. The message highlighted the strong trust placed in him by the Party Central Committee and Congress delegates.
Liu Haixing reaffirmed China’s commitment to closely coordinating with Lao counterparts to effectively implement agreements reached by the top leaders of both parties and states, and to further deepen and strengthen the enduring friendship between Laos and China.
Liu Haixing Holds Talks with Bounleua Phandanouvong, Head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations
January 13th (IDCPC) – Liu Haixing, Special Envoy of General Secretary Xi Jinping and Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), held talks here today with Bounleua Phandanouvong, Head of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations.
Liu warmly congratulated the successful convening of the 12th National Congress of the LPRP and spoke highly of the important achievements made at the congress. He said, this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos. China is willing to work with Laos to take the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and countries as a guide, and take the implementation of the new five-year action plan on building a China-Laos community with a shared future as a handle, to continuously advance the building of a high-standard, high-quality, and high-level China-Laos community with a shared future, inject new impetus into the socialist modernization of the two countries, and contribute positive energy to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.
Bounleua thanked General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Special Envoy Liu Haixing for coming to Laos to offer his congratulations. He said, under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two Parties and countries, the building of the Laos-China community with a shared future has achieved new results and the relations between Laos and China are at their best in history. In the new situation, Laos is firmly committed to its friendly policy towards China and is willing to work with China to implement the new five-year action plan on building a Laos-China community with a shared future and deepen exchanges and cooperation in all fields between the two Parties.
After the talks, Liu and Bounleua signed the cooperation plan between the two Parties from 2026 to 2030.
