About Thongloun Sisoulith
Thongloun Sisoulith, Secretary General of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos, made a state visit to China in early June 2026 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the visit, he gave an exclusive interview to China Media Group in which he described the bilateral relationship as an enduring friendship that continues to strengthen. He noted that 2026 marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the Laos-China Friendship Year, and expressed his belief that cooperation between the two countries will become "better, stronger, deeper, and elevated to a higher level." In a separate interview, Sisoulith said that China's focus on modern technology, AI, and the digital economy is "a good lesson for Laos." He also stated that the China-Laos Railway "has changed everything, changed comprehensively the face of Laos," adding that the railway has given the landlocked country an outlet to the sea and made the Lao people proud. He acknowledged that Laos is consulting on adopting a similar policy to China's but noted that it "takes time and a lot of capital."
In May 2026, Sisoulith met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow during Victory Day commemorations. Putin noted that bilateral trade had doubled compared to 2024 and that Laos had received dialogue partner status with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Sisoulith thanked Putin for the invitation and said the Lao side is "ready to continue our joint work, which is intended to improve Russian-Lao cooperation to achieve significant practical results." He added that he was "proud to see that the relationship between the two countries has been developed to the best of its ability."
Source: AI-verified profile updated from Thongloun Sisoulith's recent appearances.
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✨ AI-enhanced transcript with speaker attribution
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Narrator0:00
President Thongloun Sisoulith, Secretary General of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos, arrived in Hangzhou, the capital of East China's Zhejiang province on Tuesday for a five-day state visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In an exclusive interview with China Media Group on Wednesday, the visiting leader shared his high expectations for the future of bilateral relations. He noted that as the enduring friendship between Laos and China continues to strengthen, both nations are actively seeking deeper cooperation at both the state and party levels. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Laos and China, and it is also the Laos-China Friendship Year, President Thongloun said. Since the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, relations between Laos and China have continued to deepen, strengthen, and expand in all areas.
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Thongloun Sisoulith1:24
To be good. I believe that from now on, cooperation and diplomatic ties between our two countries will become better, stronger, deeper, and elevated to a higher level.
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Narrator1:35
As close neighbors, China and Laos share a deep bond that spans generations. Recalling their shared history, President Thongloun reflected on the 1960s when China stepped in to help war-ravaged Laos by establishing the 67 School in Nanning City, located in southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. President Thongloun, then in his 20s, was among the teachers who accompanied more than 500 Lao students in their educational journey to China. Building on these historical foundations, President Thongloun emphasized that the two nations are forging even closer ties, guided by the spirit of the four goods: being good neighbors, good friends, good comrades, and good partners.
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Thongloun Sisoulith2:32
This is part of our shared experience. I believe that the Communist Party of China and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party share common ideals. Our cooperation and strong relations have a long history, and they will continue to develop. Cooperation between our two parties and the two countries has become increasingly close. Guided by the spirit of the four goods, we have established a long-term, stable strategic partnership. We are also determined to build a Laos-China community with a shared future. Our mutual understanding will help our two countries continue to move forward together along the socialist path.
