China and Laos have reaffirmed their strong bilateral ties, agreeing to designate 2026 as the “Year of China-Laos Friendship.” This initiative underscores a commitment to enhanced cooperation, strategic coordination, and the deepening of a shared future community between the two nations. The announcement follows recent high-level communications between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed China’s willingness to deepen practical cooperation and strengthen strategic coordination with Laos. In a message to Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, Xi highlighted the long-standing friendship between the two nations, describing them as “good neighbors and close friends linked by mountains and rivers, bound by generations of friendship.” He further characterized them as “good comrades and reliable partners who share common ideals and a shared future.”
The designation of 2026 as the “Year of China-Laos Friendship” will be marked by a series of celebratory events. Both leaders have agreed to jointly announce the launch of these activities. This initiative aims to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation, and strengthen strategic coordination. The goal is to push the development of a China-Laos community with a shared future to the forefront of state-to-state relations, contributing to regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity.
President Xi noted that China-Laos relations are currently at their best in history, with broad prospects for future development. He recalled reaching important consensus with President Thongloun on advancing the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future and mapping out a blueprint for bilateral relations under new circumstances. Both sides have consistently supported each other on core interests, delivering tangible benefits to their peoples.
Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith echoed these sentiments, stating that under President Xi’s guidance, the traditional Laos-China friendship has grown stronger, political mutual trust has deepened, and comprehensive strategic cooperation has yielded fruitful results. He pledged to instruct relevant Lao departments to work closely with China to ensure the success of the friendship year celebrations and to build a high-standard, high-quality, and high-level Laos-China community with a shared future. Laos also expressed full support for the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi.
Discussions have also focused on practical areas of cooperation, including the operation of the China-Laos Railway and development along its route. Both nations are committed to upgrading key projects and deepening collaboration in defense, law enforcement, and security. This multifaceted approach aims to further elevate bilateral relations and practical cooperation across all fields in the new era.
