President says proud of Lao achievements in New Year message

President Bounnhang Vorachit - Photo Khamphan

VIENTIANE, April 13 (Vientiane Times/ANN) - President Bounnhang Vorachit on Monday wished Lao people of all ethnicities, Lao expatriates living abroad, and foreigners living and working in Laos a happy and enjoyable Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year).

The President, who is Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, on April 13 represented Party and State leaders to express solidarity and offered greetings and best wishes to all citizens and residents.

People all over the country are bidding farewell to the Buddhist year 2562 and welcoming 2563.

The official Pi Mai Lao holiday takes place from April 13-16.The past year saw the Party and State and all Lao people working hard to implement the resolution adopted by the 10th Party Congress and fulfil the country’s 8th five-year National Socio-economic Development Plan for 2016-2020.

“I am proud of our achievements throughout the past year under Party and State leadership and with the participation of people of all ethnic groups, ” President Bounnhang said.

This wholehearted participation has enabled Laos to enjoy strong political stability, social security, continuous economic growth, and improved living conditions.

The economy has seen continual its growth, with GDP rising by 6.4 percent and average annual per capita income increasing to US$2,683.

President Bounnhang took the opportunity to thank Lao compatriots of all ethnic groups, Party cadres, officials, soldiers and police officers for supporting the country's overall mission during the past year.

The upcoming year 2563 is important for Laos and will see the Party and State focus on poverty reduction, he said.

In particular, officials will accelerate the rehabilitation of people affected by natural disasters and try to restore their lives to normal as quickly as possible.

Another major goal is for Laos to graduate from the United Nations’ list of Least Developed Countries in the near future, and become a developing country in the middle-to-high income bracket, while following a “green” and sustainable development path through to 2030. Achieving these goals is a momentous task for the Party and the State and for all citizens.

Laos faces economic and financial difficulties due to natural disasters, diseases, and spells of drought, which have plagued the country several times in recent years.

At present, countries the world over, including Laos, are struggling to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, which has greatly affected social and economic development and the livelihoods of people worldwide.

In particular, the president offered best wishes to those who were victims of the deadly flood caused by the collapse of a dam which swept through Sanamxay district in Attapeu province in 2018, killing dozens of villagers. He also remembered those who had suffered in other floods around the country.

Meanwhile, the Party and State are making every effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19, respond to the outbreak, and tackle the consequences.

The authorities are monitoring the situation closely and making regular assessments of developments so as to decide on appropriate measures to reduce sickness and limit the spread of the disease.