Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Ba Hung (second from right) congratulates Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith on the occasion of Lao National Day.

Also attending the event were Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Permanent member of the Secretariat of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee Phankham Viphavan, among others.

Speaking at the event, Volachith said 2017 is an important year for Laos as it is the second year to implement the goals set in the Resolution adopted by the 10th National Party Congress and the eighth five-year plan.

This year, Laos’ economic growth is estimated at 6.83 percent while per capita income nears US$2,500, which will lay the foundation for Laos to achieve the goal of escaping from the list of underdeveloped countries by 2020 and becoming a middle-income country by 2030.

He also described 2017 as a special year marking the 50th founding anniversary of ASEAN and 20th anniversary of Laos’ admission to the bloc, affirming that Laos has witnessed ASEAN’s great achievements in maintaining peace, stability and security in the region, which has facilitated socio-economic development for its member states as well as fostering internal and external cooperation.

On this occasion, the Lao leader also thanked countries and international organisations for their support and assistance to Laos in the process of national construction and defence.