Vientiane (VNA) – The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) is continuing to implement its strategic tasks in line with the comprehensive and principal renovation policy with a focus on Party buꦗilding and ideology.

The party will also focus on developing human resources for the country’s development in the new period and build a stable, steady people’s democratic state, said the 9th Party Central Committee’s Political Report delivered by Party General Secretary and President Choummaly Sayasone at the ongoing Party Congress in Vientiane. It continues to pursue its external policy of peace, independence, friendship and cooperation as well as improving its leadership capacity, party building and inspection work. According to the report, over the past five years, the Lao economy has seen continuous and stable development. In 2015, economic growth reached 7.9 percent with per-capita income of 1,970 USD a year. Achievements were also recorded in health care, education and social welfare. The LPRP has also implemented a comprehensive defence and security policy, firmly safeguarding independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The political system and people’s democracy have been strengthened, while the leadership role of the Party has been consolidated. Choummaly concluded that the report showed that democratic centralism and the will of the entire Party, people and army as well as the Party and people’s aspirations of bringing Laos towards socialism. The report on the five-year socio-economic development plan affirmed that Laos will escape from Least Developed Country status by 2020 and considers economic development a key task. Delivered by Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, the report stressed the country’s goal to implement the Millennium Development Goals in a green and sustainable manner, and promote cooperation and integration. It targets to maintain annual economic growth of 7.5 percent and double per-capita GDP to approximately 4,000 USD. During the five-day congress, delegates will focus on discussing and approving the Party Central Committee’s Political Report. They will work on the eighth five-year socio-economic development plan for 2016-2020. Under the plan, Laos will also adjust its economic structure to conform with developments in different regions and in line with sustainable poverty reduction, while upgrading infrastructure and improving human resources towards industrialisation and modernisation. At the event, delegates are also expected to adopt the amended Party Statute and elect members for the LPRP Central Committee’s next tenure. The event, which will run until January 22, has drawn 680 delegates representing over 200,000 party members nationwide.-VNA