Despite global challenges, Laos’ economy has made great strides over the past 50 years.

Achievements in the mission to protect and develop Laos over the past 50 years

Laos, under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, has undergone major changes over the past 50 years since the new regime liberated the country from foreign domination and assumed power on December 2, 1975.
Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune highlighted the results of the implementation of the Party’s two-pronged development approach in a lecture to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and the 105th birth anniversary of President Kaysone Phomvihane.
The lecture took place at the Party Central Committee’s Propaganda and Training Committee.
Professor Dr Kikeo summarised the most important achievements as follows:
First, our country has maintained solid political stability, independence, sovereignty, and complete territorial integrity, and the fruits of the revolution have been firmly protected. The Party’s leadership role has been strengthened in all respects (political-ideological, organisational, leadership style, inspection, party management and protection, and staff training).

The Fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, linking Bolikhamxay province with Bueng Kan province in Thailand, is part of ongoing efforts to turn Laos into a regional land link, building on its landlocked location.

The Party’s mass work has been continuously organised and deployed, linked to propaganda, campaigning, and training to cultivate citizens’ sense of national sovereignty and self-ownership, as well as encouraging them to participate in poverty alleviation, building family economies to improve living standards, promoting education for children, participating in national defence and security, improving the political system, and overcoming the Covid pandemic, as well as participating in other political and social activities. 
The number of outstanding people and model families in the development sphere is increasing day by day. The Lao Front for National Development’s organisations at every level have improved their work, making it more focused and effective. 
The Veterans’ Union, the Party’s mass organisations, and various social organisations have improved the quality of their roles, making important contributions to education, fostering unity and harmony among ethnic groups, religions, and all classes of people, genders, and ages, and mobilising all classes of people to participate in the protection and development of Laos according to the Party’s guidelines.
Second, the comprehensive national defence and security policy for the entire population continues to be widely implemented, alongside the active improvement of security forces at the village and community levels, together with the implementation of the strategic plan to build political foundations and develop rural areas in ways that alleviate poverty in line with the four contents and four targets in various focus areas across the country. 
The national defence and security forces have been enlarged and improved to be politically and ideologically strong and loyal to the Party and the nation. 
These forces are now better organised and have improved their ability to carry out their duties. They are capable of resisting, preventing, and destroying the influences of hostile forces, are responsible, and have improved their ability to carry out rescue operations during extreme weather events, implement epidemic prevention measures, and promptly help people in emergency situations.
Third, despite facing severe financial and monetary difficulties, long-term debt problems, and the severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, a serious economic crisis has been avoided.
Large-scale developments, such as the Laos-China railway, expressways, energy and mining projects, agro-processing factories, urban development, and construction in special economic zones, have made good progress and are ongoing. These developments have become the main driving force of the country’s growing economy. 
Tourism is also a strong investment draw and has been a significant contributor to national and local economic development in recent years. 
Meanwhile, the production and service sectors continue to expand, and the living standards of people of all ethnic groups have significantly improved. 
At the same time, the country has made an initial positive transformation in the management of natural resource use, moving from reliance on the exploitation of natural resources to tapping other capabilities and areas of potential for national development. 
Technological advancements are being actively and widely applied to serve society and modernise industrial production, banking, finance, and state administration, laying the foundations for further industrialisation and modernisation.
Fourth, development of the socio-cultural field has also made significant progress. 
There has been considerable improvement to infrastructure, hospitals and other buildings. Major hospitals, schools and vocational training centres are now better constructed and equipped, while there has been significant improvement and expansion of public utilities in suburban and rural areas. 
We have achieved the human resource development index of countries that have graduated from the least developed status. Poverty alleviation efforts have made progress and fewer people now live below the poverty line. 
We have mobilised the strength of various parties at home and abroad through government mechanisms, social organisations, humanitarian aid agencies, etc., to resolve social problems and provide humanitarian assistance, especially focusing on material assistance and volunteers to help people of all ethnic groups who have suffered disasters or faced various emergencies.
Fifth, all state authorities have improved in terms of organisation, quality, and operation, along with the enactment and improvement of laws and regulations. These are now more systematic, creating a strong foundation for the country’s transition to a state of law and practice in line with the goal to build a people’s democratic state governed by law.
The National Assembly and Provincial People’s Councils, as representatives of the people’s interests, have played a more prominent role in making decisions on important national and local issues.
State administrative agencies have markedly increased socio-economic management in accordance with the law, gradually improving transparency in administration and management at every level, and have laid many important foundations for addressing macroeconomic difficulties.
The quality of inspection and verification work related to management of the state budget, such as revenue and expenditure, has been upgraded, along with monitoring and resolving violations of the law. This includes investigating and resolving problems around state-funded development projects that were overvalued. 
Efforts to uphold and enforce the law to ensure justice in society have strengthened, along with the prosecution of cases according to the due process of law.
Sixth, cooperation with regional countries and the international community in general has expanded, and relations with strategic friendly countries have reached new heights. 
The great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam has continued to deepen and become more effective, while the longstanding and strategic partnership between Laos and China has been upgraded to a partnership of shared destiny.
Relations with the Russian Federation have also strengthened in many spheres.
International cooperation in various forms and at many levels continues to expand, based on the government’s foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship, and implementation of strategies and forms of action consistent with varying situations.
This cooperation has made an important contribution to the resolution of conflicts, avoidance of confrontation, preservation of peace, and cooperation in the interests of regional and global development.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update December 4, 2025)