Remarks by Comrade Somdy BOUNKHOUM, Vice Chairman of the Committee for External Relations and Head of Delegation of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party at the 20^th International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties on 23-25 November 2018 in Athens, Greece, under the theme:

“The contemporary working class and its alliance. The tasks of its political vanguard – the Communist and Worker’s Parties – in the struggle against exploitation and imperialist wars, for the rights of the workers and of the peoples, for peace, for socialism”

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• Esteemed Presidium,
• Distinguished Delegates
• Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I am very pleased and honored to lead the delegation of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party to attend the 20^th International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties (IMCWP), which is held in this beautiful city of Athens. I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the Communist Party of Greece for the warmest welcome and the excellent arrangements made for this gathering.

The 20^th IMCWP coincides with the marking of the centenary of the foundation of the Communist Party of Greece, which is of historical importance for the Party’s political and social life. Throughout its development course, the Communist Party of Greece, which is the political organization of the Greek workers, continues to enhance its leadership role and consolidate its outstanding historical feats in the country, hence recording successive achievements in various areas. The Party also plays an active role in the international arena, in particular in the framework of the IMCWP. On this auspicious occasion, on behalf of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party I would like to whole-heartedly congratulate the Communist Party of Greece and wish it a greater success in leading the Party’s noble cause.

The theme of the meeting is relevant as it reflects the political tasks of the communist and workers’ parties in the struggle for fulfilling the proletariat and workers’ cause to liberate themselves, fight against exploitation and imperialist wars in all forms for the protection of rights and legitimate interests of the workers and people, for global peace and socialism.

Distinguished delegates, 

This year is a remarkable year for the communists and workers worldwide as they commemorate the Bicentenary of Karl Marx, the greatest thinker and founder of communism. The communists and workers across the world organized various seminars, discussions, lectures and other related activities in a substantive and meaningful manner so as to highlight Karl Marx’s scientific theoretical thought, which is held as the greatest one in the world and in the history of humankind, and reaffirm the continued relevance of Karl Marx’s theory and concepts in the present times.

As far as the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (Lao PRP) is concerned, since its inception on 22^ndMarch 1955 the Lao PRP consistently uphold Marxism-Leninism as the Party’s fundamental ideological theory and appropriately apply it, particularly in the areas of politics and theories, Party building, society and economy as well as national defense and security in accordance with the realities of the country in each period, being it, in the course of struggle for national liberation and of national safeguarding and development.

During the period of colonization by foreigners, the Lao people under the leadership of the Lao PRP were united to up-rise against feudalist and foreign imperialist, thus eventually scoring full victory and proclaim the foundation of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on 2 December 1975.

After the country’s independence, the Lao PRP continues to lead the Lao people to undertake recovery works, healthe wounds caused by the war, and to carry on the implementation of the national defense and construction tasks towards socialism.

In particular, the 4^th Congress of the Lao PRP held in 1986 outlined the landmark policy reform called “Comprehensive Renovation Policy”based on the six principles of the Party as follows:

• First, to uphold socialist path.
• Second, to uphold Marxism- Leninism and apply them in a creative manner and in accordance with the country’s characteristics.
• Third, to uphold the Party’s leadership and strengthen the cohesive solidarity within the Party based on the principle of democratic centralism and the Party’s lines.
• Fourth, to enhance democracy and the sense of ownership of the Lao multi-ethnic people; build the solidarity force of all masses as well as the resolved unity and integrity of the Lao nation.
• Fifth, to reinforce the rigor of the people’s democratic system and power, rely on people’s force and do the utmost for the benefits of the people, and fight against all forms of authoritarianism.
• Sixth, to hold high the spirit of independence and self-ownership, and to combine the national strength with the one of modern area.

So far, the Lao PDR has been able to maintain firm political stability. Social order and security have been guaranteed. The Lao PDR has enjoyed a constant economic growth with an average GDP of 6,9% for the period 2017-2018 and the income per capita of US$ 2609. Poverty rate has been gradually reduced and Lao people’s livelihood improved. The role of the Lao PDR has been increasingly raisedin the regional and international arena. Currently, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party is implementing the Resolution of its 10^th Congress, which outlined, among others, the Ten-Year Socio-Economic Development Strategy (2016-2025) and the Eighth Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2016-2020) with the aim to striving for graduating the Lao PDR from the Least Developed Countries list in the coming years and further leading the country’s development in the direction of  knowledge-based economy as well as green and sustainable economy by 2030. In addition, the Lao PRP continues to strive for the fruitful realization of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the Lao PRP which is the ruling party, continues to consistently enhance the leadership capacity, leadership approach and forefront role of the Party; strive for improvements within the Party so as to build a transparent, strong and firm Party, thus ensuring the Party’s inherent virtue as the vanguard of the working class and protector of the interests of the workers and the entire Lao people.

Distinguished Delegates, 

The regional and international situation continues to undergo rapid and complex changes, offering both opportunities and challenges for the development of nations in regions of the world. The capitalism and neo-liberalism have adjusted themselves and pursued a much trickier strategy and machinationaiming at intensifying their exploitation of the workers and dismantling communist and workers’ movements.

Against such backdrops, the Lao PRP continues to consistently pursue a foreign policy of peace, friendship and cooperation; takes ownership and proactively engages in regional and international integration; expands external relations with neighboring countries, countries in the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), friendly countries in the world, international organizations and political parties. Party and state cooperation is promoted in multi-directional, multi-lateral and multi-level forms.

The Lao PRP actively promotes party relations and currently has relations with 136 political parties and progressive movements in the world. The party cooperation will contribute to the creation of favorable external environment for realizing the national safeguarding and development tasks as well as the promotion of peace, stability, prosperity and common development of all nations in the world.

Finally, taking this opportunity I would like to express my sincere thanks to the communists and workers’ parties, left-wing parties and progressive movements in the regions of the world for their support and assistance extended to the Lao PDRthus far.

I would like to wish the Presidium, delegates and organizing committee a good health, happiness and success in your noble tasks.

May I wish this meeting a brilliant success.

I thank you!