Lao President Khamtay Siphandone has urged the people to beef up renovation and develop the country toward the objective of socialism.

Addressing the Eighth Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party here on Saturday, Siphandone, also president of the Party Central Executive Committee, said the congress is convened at a time when the Party has incessantly evolved and strengthened through 51 years of trials of leading the country and led it from being a colony and protectorate of foreign countries to become an independent state.

Nowadays, Laos has developed in peace and undergone major changes in many spheres toward the set directions and objectives, he said, adding the country has become a reliable partner in the international community and the Lao ethnic groups are united to build a new life with full confidence in the future.

Therefore, he said, the congress is under tough responsibility to synthesize the achievements recorded and valuable lessons learned in the past years, particularly over the past 20 years of renovation.

The congress is scheduled to last till March 21.

Source: Xinhua