President Xi Jinping joined his Lao counterpart, Thongloun Sisoulith, on Thursday to designate 2026 as the Year of China-Laos Friendship and announce the launch of a series of celebrations.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, unveiled the initiative in his reply to a letter of Spring Festival greetings from Thongloun, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president.

The exchange of letters came after Xi sent a congratulatory message to Thongloun on Jan 8, following the latter's reelection as general secretary of the LPRP Central Committee.

In his reply on Thursday, Xi noted that China and Laos are good neighbors and friends connected by mountains and rivers with their friendship spanning generations, as well as good comrades and partners with shared ideals and a common future.

In recent years, the two countries have sought development through mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, met challenges with solidarity and collaboration, and firmly supported each other on issues involving their respective core interests, bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries, he added.

Xi recalled that he and Thongloun had met on multiple occasions, reaching important consensus on advancing the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future, and charting a blueprint for the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries under new circumstances.

Noting that the relationship is not only at its best in history but also embracing broad development prospects, Xi underscored that China has always viewed its relationship with Laos from a strategic height and a long-term perspective.

Looking ahead, he expressed China's willingness to work with Laos in taking the celebration of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the friendship year as an opportunity to carry forward traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation and strengthen strategic coordination.

In his letter, Thongloun noted that the traditional friendship between Laos and China has grown stronger, their political mutual trust has deepened and comprehensive strategic cooperation has yielded fruitful results.

He pledged to ensure the success of the celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the friendship year, and to strive for building a high-standard, high-quality and high-level Laos-China community with a shared future.

He added that continuous efforts will be made to elevate bilateral relations and practical cooperation in all fields to new heights in the new era, setting an example for building a community with a shared future for humanity.