In a historic move strengthening bilateral ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Lao leader Thongloun Sisoulith officially declared 2026 as the China-Laos Friendship Year on February 5, 2026. The announcement came through exchanged letters between the two leaders, signaling renewed commitment to cross-border collaboration.
President Xi, who also serves as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized the 'profound traditional friendship' between the nations in his correspondence. Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos, reciprocated by highlighting six decades of diplomatic relations established in 1961.
The initiative will feature coordinated cultural exchanges, economic partnership programs, and infrastructure development projects along the China-Laos Economic Corridor. Observers note this strengthens implementation of Belt and Road Initiative cooperation agreements signed in recent years.
Academic institutions in both countries are preparing joint research programs on sustainable development, while tourism authorities plan reciprocal visitor campaigns. The friendship year comes as bilateral trade reaches $6.2 billion USD in 2025, with Chinese investment accounting for 22% of Laos' foreign direct investment.
