VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): Party and government leaders and all Lao citizens will honour the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic with a grand two-day celebration marked by tributes, a grand parade, and the presence of high-level guests from friendly nations.
The programme began on Monday with wreath-laying ceremonies at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier and the Kaysone Phomvihane Museum, where Party and government leaders will gather to pay their respects to national heroes and the country’s founding President.
Party Secretary General and State President, Thongloun Sisoulith, Politburo members, senior Party members and ministers are scheduled to arrive at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. And the main celebration will then continue on Tuesday (Dec 2).
After the ceremony, the motorcade will travel to the Kaysone Phomvihane Museum where they will place flowers.
The main celebration takes place on December 2 at the That Luang esplanade, where parade divisions, veteran soldiers, monks, mass organisations, invited guests, and members of Lao communities overseas will assemble from morning.
Ambassadors and foreign guests will take their seats, followed by the arrival of President Thongloun and former leaders and dignitaries. High-level delegations from friendly countries will be welcomed shortly afterwards.
This year’s celebration is especially notable for the presence of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, who will attend the event alongside high-ranking guests from China, Cuba, Russia and Cambodia.
China will send its top political advisor, Wang Huning, while Cuba will be represented by a member of the Politburo, Marta Ayala. Russia’s delegation will be led by Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, Nikolay Zhuravlev. Cambodia will be represented by Vice President of the Cambodian People’s Party, Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh.
The grand assembly and parade will take place early in the morning, starting with the national anthem performed by the Lao People’s Army orchestra. The organising committee will then invite President Thongloun to deliver a congratulatory address before the start of the parade.
This year’s parade will be one of the largest ever organised, featuring defence forces, security forces, various ministries and ethnic groups from across Laos, as well as aerial displays by helicopters and fighter jets.
The ceremony is scheduled to end before the afternoon, followed by a National Day banquet at the National Convention Centre on the same evening.
A fireworks display will take place at the That Luang esplanade, which will be broadcast live to the banquet hall.
The celebration marks a historic milestone for Laos, reflecting the unity of its people and the friendship of its international partners as the nation looks ahead to the next bright chapter of development. - Vientiane Times/ANN
