Vientiane (VNA) – Laos organised a grand parade to celebrate its 40th National Day (December 2, 1975) at Thatluang Square in Vientiane capital city on December 2.

Those present at the event included General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Choummaly Sayasone, National Assembly President Pany Yathotou, and Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong. The Vietnamese delegation to the ceremony was led by Politburo member and Standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Le Hong Anh.

In his speech, Party General Secretary and President Choummaly Sayasone recalled milestones in the country’s history, stressing that the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was the utmost achievement of the multi-decade revolution by people of all ethnic groups in Laos under the LPRP’s leadership.

It was also the victory of the combined strength of the entire nation and the solidarity between the Lao army and people, their Vietnamese peers and international friends, he said.

Over the past four decades, especially since the beginning of the comprehensive and principled reforms, Laos has secured incessant development and stability while its regional and global standing has been raised, he said, noting that the country’s gross domestic product has spiraled up 16 times from 1985 to reach 1,800 USD in 2015.

The leader also highlighted the Lao Party and State’s attention to social welfares, human resources development, cultural heritage preservation and security-defence.

He took this occasion to acknowledge valuable support from countries around the world, adding that Laos will make concerted efforts to develop in a sustainable manner.

The Southeast Asian nation will also persistently pursue the foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship and cooperation with neighbours and other ASEAN members while actively engaging in the building of peace, stability, amity and collaboration in Asia-Pacific and the world at large, Choummaly Sayasone stated.

His speech was followed by a parade of more than 18,000 people representing armed forces and all social strata in Laos. The march demonstrated all-round accomplishments that the nation has reaped over the last decades.-VNA