(KPL) ThePropaganda and Training Committee of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) held a ceremony in Vientiane to mark two significant milestones: the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (March 22, 1955 – March 22, 2025) and the 64th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Laos and China (April 25, 1961 – April 25, 2025).

At the event, Mr. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, Politburo member of the LPRP Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister, highlighted the founding of the Party as a pivotal political event in Lao history. He emphasized that the establishment of the Lao People's Party in 1955 marked the beginning of the Party’s historical mission to lead the Lao revolution forward.

He noted that the Party’s birth represented the convergence of the Lao people’s patriotic struggle and Marxism-Leninism, introduced to Indochina by President Ho Chi Minh. The formation of the Party built on the legacy of the Indochina Communist Party, setting a clear revolutionary direction through its 12-point policy and action plan. It laid the ideological and strategic foundation for the Lao revolutionary cause.

Mr. Kikeo recalled President Kaysone Phomvihane’s assertion that the Party emerged from a combination of Marxism-Leninism, genuine patriotism, and principled internationalism. He also reflected on the Party’s 70-year journey and its achievements in leading the Lao people toward independence, development, and unity.

Chinese Ambassador to Laos, Ms. Fang Hong, and Mr. Somsavath Lengsavat, former Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister, and Advisor to the Party’s Central Theological Council, also addressed the gathering. They reviewed the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Laos and China, emphasizing how the 64-year diplomatic relationship has grown stronger across multiple sectors.

The partnership, they noted, has promoted the revolutionary tradition of both nations and expanded mutually beneficial cooperation. The deepening ties have contributed significantly to the comprehensive strategic partnership, making Laos and China "good neighbors, good friends, good comrades, and good partners"—a relationship often described as a "Laos-China community with a shared future."

Currently, China is Laos’ second-largest trading partner. In 2024, bilateral trade reached USD 8.23 billion, a 15.91% increase compared to 2023. This growth has been largely driven by the Lao-China railway, which has boosted trade and connectivity between the two countries.

KPL