President Bounnhang Vorachit and other top leaders, including Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, President of the National Assembly Pany Yathortou and ministers and their deputies and their spouses received a courtesy call from a delegation of foreign diplomats and representatives of international organizations who extended their wishes on the occasion of the 41^st anniversary of National Day (Dec 2, 1975​-2016) and International New Year 2017.

The foreign officials’ delegation was led by the Dean of the diplomatic corps, Dato' Than Tai Hing Ambassador of Malaysia to Laos.

Extending his wishes to the top political leaders of Laos on this occasion, the ambassador appreciated the result of the election of the National Assembly, which led to the election of state leaders earlier this year, and spoke highly on the achievements, which Laos has recorded over the past 41 years in the socio-economic development and poverty reduction.

The result of the 8^th five-year socio-economic development plan suggested that 2016 witnessed the nation recording noticeable achievements in various areas as it was able to maintain a constant economic growth, political stability and public order creating favourable condition for people of all ethnic groups to enjoy moral rights and freedom in taking part in developing the country.

The ambassador noted that 2016 was another year of Laos showing its mettle in diplomacy as the country received visits by world leaders during the ASEAN Summits and related summits which had resulted in the drafting and approval of two key documents -Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025and Initiative for ASEAN Integration Work Plan III. The two documents aim to strengthen regional connectivity and reduce development gap in the region. 

In reply, President Bounnhang thanked the Dean of the diplomatic corps upon his kind appreciation on the Lao government showing its leadership in fostering socio-economic development for the people of Laos over the past one year.

He noted that 2016​was especially meaningful to Laos, as the year witnessed several historic landmarks happening in the nation including the 10^th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the election of the National Assembly’s 8^th legislature and Provincial and Vientiane Capital people’s councils and the rotary chairmanship of ASEAN by the Lao PDR.

He said that the Party and government had led the people of Laos in mobilizing the support of business community for the implementation of the resolution of the 10^th Party Congress and the 8^th five-year national socio-economic development plan as well as for achieving the sustainable development goals of UN, and the determination of socio-economic development strategy 2025 and vision 2030 which aim to transform the nation ​into a high middle-income developing economy according to the goal of knowledge-based economic, green and sustainable development​.

The President noted that the Lao PDR continued to enjoy a strong political stability, with public enjoying peace and order and national economy enjoying a constant growth. Though reaching 6.9%, the per capita gross domestic product enjoyed an increasing momentum climbing to USD 2,027, thus improving the livelihood of the multi-ethnic people of this nation and forming the foundation for Laos to graduate from a least developed country status by 2020.

The President said that 2016 witnessed the nation playing an active role in the regional and international arena upholding its foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship and co-operation towards all countries in the world.

The strong collaboration and cooperation within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its dialogue partners have helped Laos achieve in hosting summits.

Representing the Party, government and the Lao multi-ethnic people, the President expressed his gratitude to the ambassadors and representatives of various international organizations and through them to their countries and the organizations that they represent for extending their support to the socio-economic development in Laos over the past several years.