Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has congratulated Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith on his recent reelection as chief of the ruling party, state media reported Friday. Kim conveyed his message following the Lao president's reelection as general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party's central committee at a party congress that concluded the same day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim praised Sisoulith's reelection as a reflection of the "high trust and expectation" of the Lao ruling party members and citizens. Furthermore, Kim expressed a commitment to enhancing cooperation with Laos, recalling the summit talks he had with Sisoulith in Pyongyang last year. Kim voiced his confidence that the cooperative relations between the two countries, which boast a long-standing history and tradition, will continue to grow and strengthen across all sectors, in line with their agreement during their meeting in October last year.
The KCNA also reported that Sisoulith sent a response to Kim last month, following Kim's earlier message congratulating him on the 50th anniversary of Laos' establishment. Sisoulith highlighted their October discussions as "an important landmark in deepening and widening the friendly ties between the two countries" in his message, dated December 31. He further expressed his confidence that the friendship and close cooperation between North Korea and Laos would yield practical benefits for both nations and contribute positively to global peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
Kim and Sisoulith's summit in Pyongyang in October coincided with the 80th founding anniversary of North Korea's ruling party, where both leaders agreed to bolster bilateral cooperation.