Xi hails Thongloun role as general secretary in Laos

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Friday sent his congratulations on the election of Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith as the new general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party's Central Committee.

In a message, Xi extended warm congratulations to Thongloun and the LPRP's new central leadership on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and in his own name.

Xi said he wishes greater achievements for Thongloun in the new position.

Since the 10th congress of the LPRP and under the leadership of the 10th central committee headed by General Secretary Bounnhang Vorachit, socialist construction in Laos has achieved important progress, Xi said.

Laos has enjoyed political and social stability, sustained economic development and improvement of its people's livelihoods, he said.

Xi said that the successful opening of the 11th party congress, which made a series of arrangements on the development of the cause of the party and the country under the new situation, bears great significance.

He said he believed that the LPRP will unite the Lao people and make greater achievements in promoting the socialist cause in Laos under the new party leadership headed by Thongloun.

According to Xi, thanks to efforts made by past leaders of both countries, China and Laos, as good socialist neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, have kept deepening and developing their bilateral ties, bringing benefits to both countries and their people.

As the world enters a period of turbulent changes, Xi said he stands ready to work with Thongloun to enhance the political guidance for relations between the two parties and countries, promote traditional friendship and deepen exchanges and cooperation.

He would also like to work with Thongloun to promote the socialist cause, jointly build the China-Laos community with a shared future and make positive contributions to safeguarding regional peace, stability, prosperity and development, Xi said.

The election of Thongloun was announced by the LPRP at the 11th party congress held in Vientiane on Friday. The three-day LPRP congress, which opened on Wednesday, elected the party's new central committee members on Thursday to lead the nation's overall tasks in 2021-25.