Representatives from all sectors, genders, and ethnic groups gather for a photo session with current and former national leaders.

President calls on Lao Front for National Development to foster national unity, inclusive development

Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith, has urged the Lao Front for National Development (LFND) to adopt seven strategic priorities as it enters a new phase of development efforts.
These priorities are essential to enhancing the organisation’s influence in promoting national cohesion and advancing the country’s socio-economic goals, he said.

President Thongloun Sisoulith addresses the gathering.

Following a review of the Lao Front for National Development’s achievements over the past seven decades, presented by a Politburo member and the President of the LFND, Dr Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, at a ceremony to mark the Front’s 75th anniversary on Wednesday, President Thongloun called on the organisation to strengthen its operational capacity, deepen public engagement, and contribute more actively to national defence and development efforts.
“The LFND must continue to act as the core of national unity and expand the great solidarity of the multi-ethnic Lao people,” he said.
President Thongloun advised the LFND to further promote national identity, patriotism, and self-reliance.
He warned against external and internal efforts to create division, and called for stronger solidarity among Laos’ diverse ethnic communities to safeguard national independence and cohesion.
The Lao Front was encouraged to modernise its system of operation and improve coordination with Party committees, ministries, mass organisations, and local authorities.
These improvements are viewed as essential for the effective implementation of the Party’s development and governance strategies, particularly in rural areas.
The President also urged the LFND to innovate its approaches to public mobilisation and civic education.
Officials were reminded to lead by example and to adhere to the organisation’s core values, namely solidarity, virtue, competence, and morality.
By revitalising its outreach efforts, the LFND can better engage with citizens across all social classes and age groups, ensuring they remain informed, empowered, and involved in shaping the country’s future.
President Thongloun also highlighted the LFND’s role in supporting grassroots economic initiatives, particularly those aligned with the government’s goal to build an independent and self-reliant economy.
He praised ongoing efforts such as the Solidarity Village and Development Fund, which mobilises local and national resources to strengthen rural livelihoods, promote community-based production, and reduce poverty, especially in remote and disadvantaged regions.
The LFND was also advised to bolster efforts to monitor public policy implementation and amplify the voice of the people.
The President underscored the basic tenet that “the people must know, consult, participate, monitor, and benefit”, urging the LFND to foster meaningful citizen engagement at all levels.
He also called on the media to partner more closely with the LFND to promote transparency, accountability, and public trust in Party and state institutions.
Recognising the importance of regional and global engagement, President Thongloun encouraged the LFND to strengthen people-to-people diplomacy and expand cooperation with similar organisations in friendly and neighbouring countries.
Such efforts will help promote peace, cultural exchanges, and mutual development, while supporting growth in trade, investment, and tourism, he said.
Lastly, the President urged the LFND to assist people of Lao ethnic origin living abroad to return and contribute to the nation’s development.
He also called for deeper engagement with foreigners resident in Laos, encouraging respect for Lao laws, culture, and traditions as a foundation for peaceful coexistence and solidarity.
As Laos continues its path towards inclusive and sustainable development, President Thongloun reaffirmed the LFND’s indispensable role in building a unified, prosperous, and resilient nation.
“The strength of our country lies in the unity of its people,” he said. “The LFND must remain at the heart of this unity.”
The anniversary celebration also coincided with Lao Mass Media and Publishing Day, held annually on August 13. The President extended his congratulations to Lao journalists and media professionals, recognising their role in informing the public and supporting the LFND’s mass mobilisation efforts.
The LFND, established in 1950, has historically played a pivotal role in uniting the Lao people under the banners of the Neo Lao Issara (Lao Free Front) and later it became Lao Patriotic Front. After Laos achieved liberation in 1975, the organisation was named the Lao Front for National Construction.
Now known as the Lao Front for National Development, the organisation stands as a symbol of national unity and socio-political cohesion. It was established to represent the collective aspirations of all Lao people, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, or age.

By Bounfaeng Phaymanivong
(Latest Update August 14 , 2025)