Vientiane, July 25, 2025 - In the afternoon of July 25, 2025, at the headquarters of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the acting head, Comrade Bounleua Phandanouvong, received a courtesy visit from Comrade Gerardo Peñalver Portal, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba and his delegation, on the occasion of their visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and other countries in the Asian region.
On this occasion, Comrade Bounheuang Phandanouvong expressed his warm welcome and high regard for the visit, which he noted was an important contribution to strengthening traditional friendship relations between the two Parties, States, and peoples of Laos and Cuba.
He also expressed his sincere gratitude for the support and assistance provided by the Party, the State, and the brotherly Cuban people in the past and present in the task of defending and building the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). He congratulated Cuba's achievements in national defense and development, especially in socioeconomic development, and for having firmly preserved the fruits of the Revolution for over 60 years. In addition, he briefly reported on the notable advances in the socioeconomic construction of the Lao PDR in recent years, particularly the implementation of the resolutions from the XI Congress of the Party and the preparations for the XI Congress in 2026.
For his part, Com. Gerardo Peñalver Portal expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and the unwavering support of Laos in the struggle for the elimination of the blockade and briefly informed about the results of his meeting with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR. He highly valued and praised the achievements made by the Lao people under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), which have gradually improved the living standards of the people and elevated the role of the Lao PDR in regional and international forums.
He wished that the Party, the State, and the Laotian people achieve new and greater successes in national defense and development, as well as in the implementation of the resolutions of the upcoming Congress of the political organization. Both parties highly valued the strong and beautiful traditional relationships of Party, State cooperation, and people-to-people ties that continue to strengthen and develop ceaselessly, and took advantage of the new scenarios provided by the future celebration of the congresses of the respective Parties, the centenary of both leaders Kaysone Phomvihane and Fidel Castro, as well as the first arrival of the latter in Havana.
Additionally, they exchanged views on reviewing and promoting the implementation of joint agreements, seeking to strengthen future cooperation in areas of mutual interest and continue strengthen the Party relations. They also agreed to continue supporting each other in bilateral spheres and international scenarios.
Embassy of Cuba