President highlights successes, calls for renewed effort in coming year

President Thongloun Sisoulith has expressed his appreciation and thanks to people from all walks of life for their contribution to the implementation of national missions, while calling on them to join the effort to overcome challenges to future development.
Mr Thongloun, representing the Party Central Committee and the government and on his own behalf, made the comments during a message to welcome Lao New Year 2564.

“On this auspicious and prosperous occasion, on behalf of the Party Central Committee, the government and myself, I would like to express appreciation and thanks to Party members, civil servants, military and police officers, medical staff and teachers, business operators and entrepreneurs, all fellow citizens, Lao residents overseas, friendly countries, and international organisations for your contribution to the implementation of our national mission, especially the battle against Covid-19, which limited the number of infections and saw no deaths,” the president said.
He noted the efforts made by the entire Party, government and Lao people in the country’s development over the past year, saying that the most outstanding area of progress was their participation in the Eleventh Party Congress and the election of the National Assembly’s ninth legislature and Provincial People’s Councils.
“The success of these elections reflects the full upholding and enhancing of democratic rights and ownership on the part of the multiethnic people,” President Thongloun said.
He mentioned the recent inaugural session of the National Assembly, which approved several important national issues, reflecting the growth of the country in raising political awareness, patriotism and solidarity throughout the nation, and the trust of the Lao people in Party leadership and the people’s democratic regime.
The president also referred to the political and administrative system, which he said had been improved, while people’s material and spiritual concerns had been steadily addressed and cooperation with friendly countries and international organisations effectively broadened.
He said the coming year was a meaningful time for the country in targeting poverty reduction and the fulfilment of goals to ensure Laos graduates from Least Developed Country status and makes strong strides towards green and sustainable development.
To achieve these goals, the president called on people throughout the country to join with the Party and government in implementing the directions and policies set by the Eleventh Party Congress and the ninth five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan.
He stressed the need to adapt to a new normal and new ways of earning a living, moving to more progressive and modern livelihoods, while also dispelling undesirable forms of conduct and building a pure, beautiful, harmonised, just and prosperous society that was imbued with creativity and progressiveness.
The president called on his fellow citizens to protect and strengthen the nation’s fine traditions and strengthen solidarity to overcome difficulties and challenges in the year ahead.
He extended greetings to people of Lao origin living overseas and invited them to turn their faces to the country of their forebears and to join the nation in the development of their beloved country to create a rich, strong and prosperous people and a society that was unified, democratic, just and civilised.
On the occasion of Lao New Year, President Thongloun wished happiness and prosperity to foreigners and expatriates permanently living in Laos.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update April 13, 2021)