Pubic security staff check bags on entry to the National Convention Centre.

Security tightened in run up to 12th National Party Congress
 
Round-the-clock security checks are underway at the National Convention Centre as part of efforts to ensure the smooth and secure convening of the 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party this week.
Deputy Head of the General Department of Police under the Ministry of Public Security, and member of the Congress Security Committee, Brigadier General Sali Phoutthavong, said the department had deployed specialist forces to conduct 24-hour patrols in and around the National Convention Centre, beginning on January 3.
The congress itself takes place from January 6-8.
The security operation is being carried out in coordination with national defence forces, Vientiane police, village administrations, and other groups.
This unified approach aims to ensure security and social order, and ensure the congress passes off without incident, Brig. Gen. Sali said.
He called upon all organisations and people of all ethnic groups across the country to support the security operation.
Cooperation and shared responsibility among all sectors and citizens is crucial to ensuring that the congress takes place peaceably and achieves its goals, he said.
The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party opens its 12th National Congress today (January 6), when a new Party leadership will be elected and the country’s development direction for the next five years determined.
A total of 834 delegates, including 123 women, will attend the congress, representing 421,865 Party members across the country.
Delegates were elected from Party committees at the ministerial level, equivalent organisations and provinces, and represent a wide range of social backgrounds, ethnic groups, genders, and age groups. An additional 388 invited guests will also attend.
Delegates will consider and adopt the drafts of four key documents, namely the Party’s third political project, the political report of the 11th Party Central Committee, the 10th five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2026-2030, and Party regulations relating to the 12th central committee.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update January 6, 2026)