Beijing, February 5: The General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chinese President Xi Jinping has responded to a letter from Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos. Together, they announced that 2026 will be celebrated as the “China-Laos Friendship Year,” marking the beginning of a series of celebratory events.
Xi emphasized that China and Laos are good neighbors and friends, connected by mountains and rivers. He described the two nations as partners with shared ideals and destinies. In recent years, both sides have developed through mutual benefits and win-win cooperation, faced challenges through unity and collaboration, and strongly supported each other on issues related to their core interests, resulting in tangible benefits for their peoples.
Xi stated that China has always viewed its relationship with Laos from a strategic and long-term perspective. He expressed China’s readiness to work with Laos, using the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the “China-Laos Friendship Year” as an opportunity to continue their traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation, strengthen strategic alignment, and promote the creation of a community with a shared future for both countries. This aims to enhance peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the region.
In his New Year greetings, Thongloun Sisoulith noted that under the care and guidance of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, the traditional friendship between Laos and China has strengthened, mutual political trust has deepened, and significant results have emerged from extensive strategic cooperation. He pledged to guide Lao departments to successfully collaborate with China in organizing events celebrating the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the “Laos-China Friendship Year.” This will help establish a high-level and high-quality community with a shared future for Laos and China, continuously elevating mutual relations and practical cooperation across various fields to new heights, setting an example for building a community with a shared future for humanity.
(Source: China Media Group, Beijing)
