IXth Party Congress of Lao People's Revolutionary Party

The 9th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) was held from 16th March to 20th March in Vientiane with the participation of 576 delegates representing more than 191,700 party members nationwide. The 9 th Party Congress of Lao peoples Revolutionary Party (LPRP), unanimously reelected Mr Choummaly Sayasone as the Secretary General.

The 9 th Party Congress was wrapped with great achievements, which unanimously approved the resolution of the 9 th Party Congress and a new batch of LPRP Politburo member (11 members) and LPRP CC members (61 members) and an amended statute. The congress took place under the theme:"Enhancing cohesive solidarity of the Lao nation and unity within the Party, upholding the leadership role and capacity of the Party, Devising breakthrough approach for the implementation of the renovation policy, Creating solid basis for lifting our nation from underdevelopment by 2020, and Advancing further towards Socialism destination".

Former Party General Secretary Khamtay Siphandone and the state and government leaders as well as members of the diplomatic corps and some international organizations also attended the opening session of the congress. 

In the opening speech, Politburo member and Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong expressed limitless gratitude and respectful commemoration to late beloved President Kaysone Phomvihane who found the Lao Peoples Army, Lao People's Revolutionary Party, a new regime and starting the principle based renovation policy in the Lao PDR. Comrade Thongsing Thammavong noted that the Congress took place at an important time, when the country received a great number of achievements in the cause of national defence and construction made in the past 35 years.

The years from 2011 to 2015 are a very important period for Laos, as the Party works towards achieving the millennium development goals in 2015, and creating the foundation for Laos to graduate from least developed country status by 2020.

To achieve these goals, the Party has set a target for economic growth of at least 8 percent per year over the next five years and annual per capita income of US$1,700, dropping household poverty to less than 10 percent and eliminating illiteracy among 99 percent of the Lao multi-ethnic people aged 15-24 years.The Party's goals also include annual rice production of 4.2 million tonnes and increasing tourist arrivals to 2.8 million per year to increase tourism revenue. 

The Party also gives priority to integrating Laos with the rest of the region and world as Asean will become a single market and production base in 2015, allowing member nations, both old and new, to integrate their economies and address development disparities.

Choummaly Sayasone

Party General Secretary Choummaly Sayasone presented the VIII Party Central Committee's report at the opening session, while Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad, Politburo member and head of the Secretariat for the IX Party Congress presented the Seventh five year socio-economic development plan ( 2011-2015). The five day congress will considered and approved the political report of the VIII Party Central Committee to the IX Party Congress, the Seventh five year socio-economic development plan ( 2011-2015), and the amended rule of the Party.

Party delegates donate 740m kip for Japan relief effort

Delegates of the 9th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party have donated more than 740 million kip (over US$90,000) to help Japan as the country and its people face ongoing impacts of the recent catastrophic earthquake and tsunami.

The donations were received at the Party Central Committee Office in Vientiane after the External Relations Committee of the Party announced last week that it was accepting public donations as part of international humanitarian aid efforts by the Party and Lao people to assist Japan