Chinese President Xi Jinping replied on February 5 to his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith’s new year greetings to jointly designate 2026 as the Year of China-Laos Friendship.
The friendship year will feature a number of celebratory events and Xi, in his letter, noted that China and Laos are good neighbours and good friends connected by mountains and rivers with generations of friendship, as well as good comrades and good partners who share ideals and a common future.
China has always viewed its relations with Laos from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, and is willing to take the celebration of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the friendship year as an opportunity to carry forward traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation, strengthen strategic coordination, and advance the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future to the forefront of state-to-state relations.
For his part, Thongloun has pledged to instruct various departments of his country to work with the Chinese side to ensure the success of the celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the friendship year, build a Laos-China community with a shared future with high standards, high quality and high level, and continue to elevate bilateral relations and practical cooperation in all fields to new heights in the new era, setting an example for building a community with a shared future for humanity.
On the same day, Laos and China marked the Lunar New Year with a transnational cultural and arts performance held in the Laotian capital Vientiane, bringing together officials, artists, and representatives from both countries to promote friendship and people-to-people ties.
Speaking at the ceremony, Cai Xiangrong, Executive Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Yunnan Provincial Committee, noted that Laos and China are close neighbors connected by shared mountains and rivers and are strategic partners with a shared future. The top leaders of both countries had officially announced the launch of the Friendship Year earlier the same day.
The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and the KPL Lao News Agency.
Xi, Laos’ top leader announce launch of friendship year
BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, replied on Thursday to Laos’ top leader Thongloun Sisoulith to designate 2026 as the Year of China-Laos Friendship.
In the letter, Xi also joined Thongloun, general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, in announcing the launch of a series of events of celebration in the friendship year.
Xi noted that China and Laos are good neighbors and good friends connected by mountains and rivers with generations of friendship, as well as good comrades and good partners who share ideals and a common future.
In recent years, Xi added, the two sides have pursued development through mutual benefit, met challenges through unity and collaboration, and firmly supported each other on issues involving their respective core interests, bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.
Xi recalled his multiple meetings with Thongloun, during which they reached important consensus on deepening the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future, and charting a blueprint for the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries under new circumstances.
Noting that with the turn of the year comes the renewal of all things, Xi said that China-Laos relations are at their best in history, with broad prospects for development.
China has always viewed its relations with Laos from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, and is willing to take the celebration of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the friendship year as an opportunity to carry forward traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation, strengthen strategic coordination, and advance the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future to the forefront of state-to-state relations, making greater contributions to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity, Xi said.
In his New Year greetings to Xi, Thongloun said that with Xi’s care and guidance, traditional Laos-China friendship has grown stronger, political mutual trust has deepened, and their comprehensive strategic cooperation has yielded fruitful results.
Thongloun has pledged to instruct various departments of his country to work with the Chinese side to ensure the success of the celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the friendship year, build a Laos-China community with a shared future with high standards, high quality and high level, and continue to elevate bilateral relations and practical cooperation in all fields to new heights in the new era, setting an example for building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Laos, China Celebrate Lunar New Year 2026 with Transnational Arts Performance in Vientiane
February 6 (KPL) – Laos and China marked Chinese New Year 2026 with a transnational cultural and arts performance held in Vientiane on February 5, bringing together officials, artists, and representatives from both countries to promote friendship and people-to-people ties.
The event was attended by Mr. Khammon Chanthachit, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Propaganda and Training Board, Mr. Cai Xiangrong, Executive Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, Ms. Fang Hong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Lao PDR and Ms. Dalany Phommavongsa, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, along with other invited guests.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Khammon highlighted the Chinese Spring Festival as a meaningful tradition that symbolizes bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new one, while strengthening family unity and shared hopes for prosperity. He extended New Year wishes to the Chinese people and Chinese communities living in Laos, and encouraged continued efforts to deepen the long-standing friendship between the two nations.
Mr. Cai noted that Laos and China are close neighbors connected by shared mountains and rivers and are strategic partners with a shared future. He said 2026 marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Laos and China, and has been designated as the “Laos–China Friendship Year.” He added that the top leaders of both countries officially announced the launch of the Friendship Year earlier the same day.
Mr. Cai also pointed to the timing of the event, noting it followed “Lichun,” the Beginning of Spring in the Chinese calendar, which represents renewal and fresh starts. He said the delegation traveled by the “Lan Xang” train from Kunming along the Laos–China Railway, organizing cultural activities on board under the theme “Traveling Together Through Song, United as One.” More than 100 performers from ethnic groups in Yunnan Province joined performances to share festive joy with passengers from both countries.
Organizers said the activities gained significant attention, receiving coverage from more than 500 media outlets. Over 10 online influencers from the South and Southeast Asia Net Idol Alliance also joined livestream broadcasts, attracting more than 20 million online viewers and generating over 300 million views.
Artists from Laos and China were also scheduled to perform again that evening under the theme “A Bright New Spring, Strong Neighborly Bonds,” continuing efforts to expand cultural exchange and strengthen mutual understanding between the peoples of both nations.
The event also highlighted the role of the Laos–China Railway, described as a symbolic project under the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2026, the railway marks its 5th anniversary of operation, having transported more than 63 million passenger trips and over 73 million tons of cargo, and is widely recognized as an important route supporting development and connectivity.
Ambassador Fang Hong said 2026 is the first year of China’s 15th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan and also the first year for Laos to implement the resolutions of the 12th National Party Congress. She noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, with both sides jointly announcing 2026 as the Laos–China Friendship Year, creating new momentum for deepening exchanges and expanding cooperation.
The celebration featured more than nine performances by artists from both countries, including songs and dances such as “Song of Blessings,” “Good Luck in the New Year,” “Birdsong Welcoming the Sunlight,” the Nang Keo dance, and “Joyful Songs Along the Friendship Route,” along with other cultural presentations.
