The 1st National Party Congress takes place from March 22 to April 6, 1955, in Huaphan province.

National Party Congress: An important milestone for the Party and nation

Lao people throughout the country eagerly await the 12th National Party Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, taking place from January 6-8.

The Congress is the most important decision-making gathering of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, held once every five years to make decisions that shape the nation’s development in the coming years.
The next Congress, the 12th to be convened, is scheduled for January 6-8, when new Party and leaders will be elected to guide the next five-year term from 2026 to 2030.
The National Party Congress is attended by delegates who have been selected from and by provincial and ministerial-level Party Congresses. Attendees elect members of the new Party Central Committee.
Once elected, the new central committee will immediately hold a preliminary session to elect the Party Secretary General, Politburo members, and other Party leaders.
This year’s Congress takes the theme “Enhance the Party’s strong leadership, build an independent and self-reliant economy, firmly establish the people’s democratic system, and advance towards socialism”.
In a break from tradition, the Party will adopt a “third-issue political programme” for the first time in 50 years, after previously leading by setting guidelines at each congress.
In this political programme, the Party will define directions, goals and 11 major policies.
In particular, the Party will spell out the national development path until the year 2055, which is the 100th anniversary of the Party’s founding. The main aim is for Laos to become an upper-middle-income country, moving closer to becoming a high-income country in the future.
The 1st National Party Congress, which was the Party’s founding congress, was held from March 22 to April 6, 1955, in Huaphan province, with 20 delegates representing 400 Party members. At the meeting, the Party was officially named the Lao People’s Party, and Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane was elected as Secretary General. March 22, 1955, was officially designated as the Party’s founding date.
The 2nd National Party Congress took place from February 3-6, 1972, in Viengxay district, Huaphan province, with 125 delegates representing more than 20,000 Party members nationwide. At this congress, the Party adopted its current name, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, and Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane was re-elected as Secretary General.
The 3rd National Party Congress, the first to be officially open to the public, was held from April 27-30, 1982, in Vientiane. It was attended by 228 delegates representing 35,000 Party members, along with Lao and foreign guests. Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane was elected as Secretary General for a third term.
The 4th National Party Congress, held from November 13-15, 1986, marked a major turning point in the country’s reform process. Party members endorsed an opening-up policy to attract foreign investment and boost economic growth, identifying transportation and infrastructure development—particularly road construction—as key priorities. Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane was elected as Secretary General for a fourth term.
The 5th National Party Congress took place from March 27-29, 1991, in Vientiane, further consolidating the reform path and again electing Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane as Secretary General.
The 6th National Party Congress was held from March 18-20, 1996, in Vientiane, electing Comrade Khamtay Siphandone as Secretary General.
The 7th National Party Congress, held from March 6-10, 2001, re-elected Comrade Khamtay Siphandone as Secretary General for a second term.
The 8th National Party Congress, convened from March 18-21, 2006, elected Comrade Choummaly Sayasone as Party chief.
The 9th Party Congress, held from March 17-21, 2011, re-elected Comrade Choummaly Sayasone as Secretary General.
The 10th National Party Congress, held from January 18-22, 2016, elected Comrade Bounnhang Vorachith as Secretary General.
The 11th National Party Congress, convened from January 13-15, 2021, elected Comrade Thongloun Sisoulith as Secretary General of the Party Central Committee.

By Khonesavanh Latsaphao
(Latest Update January 2, 2026)