World Insights: 65 years on, Laos

An aerial drone photo shows technicians inspecting a section of power transmission line of the China-Laos 500-kV interconnection project in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 14, 2026. (Xinhua)

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties on April 25, 1961, Laos and China have been committed to the principles of long-term stability, good-neighborliness, mutual trust and comprehensive cooperation.

by Chanthaphaphone Mixayboua

VIENTIANE, June 2 (Xinhua) -- 2026 marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and China and the China-Laos Friendship Year.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties on April 25, 1961, Laos and China have been committed to the principles of long-term stability, good-neighborliness, mutual trust and comprehensive cooperation.

With Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and president of Laos, paying a state visit to China from June 2 to 6, exchanges and cooperation across various fields continue to deepen.

HIGH-LEVEL INTERACTIONS

Since the beginning of 2026, high-level exchanges have continued to underscore the enduring partnership between Laos and China.

In January, Liu Haixing, special envoy of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, visited Laos to extend congratulations on the successful convening of the 12th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Thongloun Sisoulith on his election as general secretary of the 12th LPRP Central Committee.

In mid-April, a high-level Lao delegation visited China to further strengthen bilateral ties.

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties, leaders of China and Laos exchanged congratulatory messages. As socialist neighbors in a community with a shared future, China and Laos are united by shared ideals and beliefs, identical social systems and similar development paths and that their "comradely and brotherly" bond, personally forged by the older generation of leaders of both parties and countries, has grown ever stronger over time, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president said in his meessage.

For his part, Thongloun said that over the 65 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the friendly ties between the two parties, the two countries and the two peoples -- marked by solidarity in times of difficulty -- have been lifted to higher levels, with fruitful outcomes in building the Laos-China community with a shared future.

SHARED DEVELOPMENT

In addition to close political ties, Laos and China have continued to deepen practical cooperation in infrastructure, energy and connectivity, creating new drivers for economic growth and regional development.

Beyond fostering win-win cooperation, the China-Laos Railway represents a landmark of friendship, contributing to enhanced infrastructure and greater connectivity throughout Laos.

By the end of March 2026, cargo transport on the railway had exceeded 80 million tons, including more than 18 million tons of cross-border freight. As of May 28, the railway had also recorded 73.38 million passenger trips since its launch in December 2021, including more than 840,000 cross-border journeys, according to railway authorities.

In 2025, two-way trade amounted to 9.817 billion U.S. dollars, marking a year-on-year increase of 19.3 percent. China remained Laos' largest foreign investor, with cumulative investment exceeding 18 billion dollars across key sectors, notably infrastructure, energy, agriculture and the digital economy.

The China-Laos 500 kV power grid interconnection project was officially launched on April 20, marking a significant step forward in power connectivity and mutual support capacity between the two countries. The project is expected to support the transition toward greener and low-carbon energy systems, delivering tangible modernization benefits to the two peoples. In addition, several clean energy projects have also been launched in Laos.

Artists perform on a passenger train traveling from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Lao capital Vientiane on April 14, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGES

Beyond economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges between Laos and China have continued to expand in areas of culture, health, education and tourism.

In late May, the Laos-China Film Festival served as a platform to promote cultural exchange and friendship between the two peoples. The "Tea and the World: Elegant Gathering" China-Laos tea culture exchange event also showcased traditional Chinese tea culture, with tea masters from China's Yunnan Province demonstrating the brewing process of Dianhong tea and sharing related techniques and traditions.

Cooperation has also expanded into public health. In February, an airplane hospital jointly developed by the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China arrived in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, for its first overseas public welfare medical mission, providing free consultations and examinations.

In education, China has continued to offer scholarships for Lao students to study in China, supporting a range of assistance projects in Laos. In March, the construction and renovation of Meuangxay Secondary School in northern Laos were completed and officially handed over. The project also created thousands of local jobs during its construction.

China has further supported educational development through various initiatives, including the Laos Distance Education Project and the Laos Rural Teachers' Quality and Capacity Improvement Project, as well as by providing educational equipment.

Tourism also recorded strong growth, with China ranking among the top three sources of foreign visitors to Laos. More than 1 million Chinese tourists visited the country in 2025, up by 24.32 percent year on year. Lao officials expect the number of Chinese visitors to reach around 2 million in 2026.

At present, Laos and China are accelerating efforts to build the China-Laos community with a shared future. Both countries have expressed readiness to strengthen strategic mutual trust, carry forward their traditional friendship and achieve further results in practical cooperation across various fields, with the aim of delivering greater benefits to both peoples.

The two countries stand ready to follow through on the strategic consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, ensure the success of activities marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the Year of China-Laos Friendship, and further enhance tangible outcomes of bilateral cooperation.  ■