The Eighth Congress of Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) kicked off in Vientiane Saturday with the participation of 498 party members from the central and local governments.

Khamtay Siphandone, President of the Party Central Executive Committee, also Chairman of PDR said at the opening ceremony since the reform and opening up policy was adopted 20 years ago, the country has undergone tremendous changes. Advances have been made in all fronts and people's livelihood have been improved to a large margin.

He said the congress will recollect and summarize the implementation of the policies and guidelines adopted at Seventh Party Congress five years ago and set down the next Five-Year Economic and Social Development plan for 2006-2010.

The government aims to eradicate poverty in the country by 2010 and transform Laos into a prosperous and civilized nation by 2020, he added.

It is reported that the congress will also reelect members of the LPRP Central Committee and the Political Bureau of the LPRP Central Committee, modify the party constitution to ensure the constituency of its policies and make it in line with the update international and domestic situation.

Being held every five years, the congress is scheduled to wind up on March 21.

The LPRP was established in 1955 and claims 148,000 members to date.

Source: Xinhua