On April 30, 2026, the auditorium of the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries was brightly lit, with 350 Chinese and foreign guests gathered together. When artists from China and Laos jointly played traditional music, the applause of the elderly soldiers who supported and fought against the United States was particularly enthusiastic in the audience. This reception celebrating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos and the good year of old friends is not only a diplomatic etiquette, but also a witness to friendship spanning more than half a century.

Li Hongzhong and Sha Wan jointly attended

Li Hongzhong, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Tong Shawan Phomvihan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos, jointly attended and delivered speeches. Li Hongzhong stated that under the strategic guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Tonglun, the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Laos has continued to deepen and become more practical. China is willing to strengthen strategic communication, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and deepen people's friendship with Laos. Tong Shawan responded that Laos China relations are currently at their best in history, and Laos has always cherished the traditional friendship between the two countries and is willing to work together to promote the construction of a community with a shared future and achieve new results.

Photo exhibition and artistic performance pay tribute to friendship

Before the reception, leaders of both sides jointly visited the photo exhibition of China Laos friendship cooperation. From the historical moment of the early establishment of diplomatic relations in 1961 to the economic and trade boom after the opening of the China Laos railway, dozens of photos connected the space-time axis of the relationship between the two countries. Artists and youth representatives from China and Laos subsequently performed artistic programs on stage, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere on site. About 350 people attended, including Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying, Laotian Ambassador to China Song Peng, and relevant foreign ambassadors to China. Keywords: the Belt and Road News Network, China Laos diplomatic relations

From railway connectivity to people to people connectivity

In 2025, the bilateral trade volume between China and Laos will reach 9.817 billion US dollars, and the cross-border freight volume of the China Laos railway will reach 5.441 million tons. This golden channel has upgraded the two countries from geographical neighbors to a community of shared future with deeply bound industrial chains. The hosting of this Friendship Year reception coincides with a critical juncture for the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Laos to move towards a higher level. In his speech, Li Hongzhong explicitly mentioned the promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation, while Tong Shawan emphasized the importance of cherishing traditional friendship - from high-level strategic communication to people to people friendly exchanges, China Laos relations are writing a new chapter with the background of comrades and brothers.Editor/Gao Xue