President proud of accomplishments over 46 years

National Day, which is celebrated by all Lao people today, is the fruit of a long struggle and the sacrifice of blood and tears on the part our ancestors and warriors to free the nation from foreign imperialists.
This was the key message in a statement delivered by Party Secretary General and State President Thongloun Sisoulith to mark the 46th anniversary of the establishment of the Lao PDR.
“December 2, 1975, was a day of great victory, when Lao people throughout the whole country declared to the world that the Lao PDR had finally gained full independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and Lao people of all ethnicities had become the true masters of their country,” the President said.

He observed that Lao citizens jointly celebrate National Day every year with great pride. The day symbolises a great victory for all those who made sacrifices to liberate Laos and establish a new regime to govern the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Although it had not been possible to organise a gathering to celebrate National Day because of the pandemic, Mr Thongloun said he was proud to represent the Party and state bodies to jointly celebrate the day with people of all ethnicities in a new way, by delivering a message through media.
National Day is an occasion for Lao people to pay respect and homage to the revolutionary leaders who dedicated their lives to achieving freedom for Laos.
It is also a time for Laos to review its accomplishments and take stock of what needs to be done in the future.
The President gave a brief overview of Laos’ history since King Fa Ngum reunited the Lane Xang Kingdom in the 14th century up until the fight by the multi-ethnic Lao people against foreign aggressors in the 20th century.
The nation had passed through various stages including prosperity, sadness, and division of land, resulting in the invasion of other countries. However, new heroes and leaders had emerged in different periods of time, as recorded in Lao history, the President said.
Under the wise leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the multi-ethnic Lao people were able to fight against foreign aggressors and liberate the country in 1975.
Over the past 46 years, the nation has undergone rapid development, with per capita GDP rising from US$114 in 1985 to US$2,664 in 2020. The number of poor families has now declined to 62,384, equal to just 5.16 percent of all families.
Roads, airports, bridges and other infrastructure has been built to connect various parts of Laos to the rest of the region. This is part of the government’s plan to transform Laos from a landlocked country to a land link within the region and spur socio-economic development.
Importantly, this year’s National Day marks the completion of the Vientiane-Vangvieng Expressway and the Laos-China Railway, which is scheduled for inauguration on December 3.
The improvement of infrastructure will serve as a driving force to boost socio-economic development in Laos in the coming years.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update December 2, 2021)